Motor Control - Development of Postural Control

why is postural control important in development?

without postural control, the infant cannot progress with refining motor skills

what does immature postural system limit?

emergence of other behaviors

what is the law of developmental processes?

states that development happened head to toes and proximal to distal

what is the sequence of motor milestones?

head control, sitting, creeping/crawling, pull to stand, independent stance, and walking

what are some functional skills that require postural control?

sitting, standing, walking unsupported, reaching forward, and moving from sitting to standing

babies cannot walk until what improves?

core control and ability to control trunk with smaller BOS

what are tests to determine level of development?

gross motor function test, Peabody, Alberta infant motor scale

what are the classic theories of development of postural control?

reflex and hierarchical

what is the reflex and hierarchical theory dependent on?

appearance and subsequent integration of reflexes

what are the recent theories of development of postural control?

systems, ecological, and dynamical action theories

what is the basis of systems, ecological, and dynamical action theories?

the interaction of MSK, neural, task, and environment promotes development and reflexes are just one part of it

what is local static reactions?

stiff the limb for support against gravity

What is the segmental static reactions?

involve more than one segment, flexor withdrawal reflex and the crossed extensor reflex

what is the general static reactions?

involve changes in position of the whole body in response to changes in head position

what are righting reactions?

allow a species specific orientation of the body with respect to its environment

what reflect maturity of the cortical structures?

the appearance or disappearance of reflexes

what is the role of reflexes in development?

this is controversial; there is uncertainty about the contribution of reflexes in normal and abnormal children

describe how the systems theory supports development of the postural control?

various complex interactions between all systems (MSK, neural ... sensation, where the body is in space, vision, somatosensory, etc.)

what does development of balance and postural control follow?

cephalocaudal sequence

how would you describe the movements of a normal "heathy" infant?

complex, fidgety, involving the whole body?

if an infant's movements become monotonous and poorly differentiated, what is this a sign of?

CP or another impairment of the CNS

what does lack of head control in an infant result from?

lack of strength and lack of organized muscle activity

what system is important in calibration of vestibular and proprioceptive systems?

vision

what system is important in emergence of gross motor skills?

vestibular

what system is critical in calibrating somatosensory inputs for control of head posture?

vision

is learning required for optic flow sensitivity

no

what is the primary contributor to postural control in infants?

vision

when does independent sitting usually occur?

6-8 months

what postural development needs to occur before independent sitting?

head neck and trunk

what are the stages of independent sitting?

1. no control

2. attempts to initiate upright sitting

3. partial control with larger range of body sway

4. functional control wit minimal sway

when is reactive balance control available in infants?

before independent sitting (partially)

are babies able to sit on incline and declined slopes?

yes

does reactive or anticipatory balance develop first?

reactive

what does lack of trunk control limit in infants?

reaching

what doe infants rely on when trying to maintain sitting balance?

vision

when does dependence on vision decrease?

when experience with independent sitting increases

what systems control postural responses to perturbations?

somatosensory

who does postural training help?

children with motor delays (because motor skills cannot develop without postural control)

what MUST infants learn to stand independently?

- balance within reduced stability limits

- control additional degrees of freedom

- recalibrate sensorimotor representations for postural control

what is exploratory postural sway?

investigate and explore sensorimotor workspace for postural control

What is performatory postural sway?

uses sensory information to control posture

what is NOT the limiting factor when a child is transitioning to independent stand?

strength

when sway decreases in experienced walkers, what does this suggest?

decreased reliance on vision and increased reliance on somatosensory

what balance strategies do walkers use in first year?

hip strategy

when do children show ability to consistently control hips?

7-10 years

when is stance control considered "adult like" in children

10-12 years

how does children being "top heavy" affect balance?

decrease balance

how does children being shorter affect balance?

increases because COM is closer to the ground

Why do children lose their balance more often?

because their body is moving faster

when does postural control become "adult like"?

12-15 years old

when do children develop anticipatory postural control?

4-6 years old

when can children typically perform dual tasks?

7 years old