Functional movement in infants and children

Question 1

what is functional movement

Answer 1

• self chosen
• self directed
• meaningful in the life of the child at a particular
point in time
• goal directed

Question 2

what is the dynamic systems theory

Answer 2

• cooperation of multiple systems at multiple levels

that are self-organising to achieve an outcome

Question 3

what factors in the dynamic systems theory affect the outcome

Answer 3

Environment:

• social
• practice
• teaching

Child:

• body systems
• cognitive
• motivation

Task:

• gravity
• support surface
• GRF
• Task components

Question 4

what is the infant reflex or primary stepping

Answer 4

• infant stepping is not reflexive but a function of limb weight and gravity
• stepping possible if weight reduced and gravity eliminated
• stepping stopped if weight increased
• upright stepping similar kinematics to kicking in supine

Question 5

what are some considerations of the dynamics system theory

Answer 5

• factors are of equal
importance
• asynchronous
development of factors
• rate of change dependent
on slowest developing
factor
• change occurs when all
factors congruent
• efficient movement
attempts to limit degrees
of freedom

Question 6

what is stability

Answer 6

when a movement pattern is well
established (efficient), but still has flexibility to
be adaptable

Question 7

what is instability

Answer 7

when a movement pattern is being

learnt; opportunities for teaching

Question 8

what factors affect motor development

Answer 8

• stature, weight & body proportions
• skeletal growth
• brain development
• cardiac function
• respiratory system
• muscular system
• genetics & temperament
• environment

Question 9

how does weight affect stature/motor behaiours

Answer 9

larger and heavier infants walk later

Question 10

what is the difference in body proportions as the child grows

Answer 10

• head is disproportionately large compared to
the torso (difficulty extending in prone)
• lower CoM compared with adults

Question 11

what is the change in skeletal growth of the tibio-femoral angle

Answer 11

• start of with varus till ~1yr
• go in valgus till 2-3yrs
• decreases and remains in slight varus normally

Question 12

how does brain development progress from gestation to older years

Answer 12

• neuron birth starts at week 6 gestation
• progresses to neuron migration
• progresses to axon and dendrite outgrowth into birth
• synaptic production starts at birth/last few weeks of gestation
• myelination beings at birth, and continues throughout life
• synaptic pruning starts at about 12 months after birth and continues

Question 13

what is the difference in cardiac function for babies

Answer 13

• decreased heart size
• decreased blood volume
• decreased stroke volume
• compensated by increased HR
• lower max cardiac capacity
• hence decreased high intensity exercise capacity

Question 14

what is the change in HR

Answer 14

• faster HR when younger
• neonate= 100-170
• normal adult/>12yo= 60-100

Question 15

what is the different in aerobic capacity

Answer 15

• increases with ages–> increase lung volume and flow rate
  • little difference in VO2 between children and
  adolescents
  • VO2 peaks at 17-21 years

Question 16

what is the difference in anaerobic capacity

Answer 16

• increases with age, peaks ~20 years
• decreased blood and muscle lactate levels
• fatigue quicker (energy derived more readily
aerobically)

Question 17

why do babies have a decreased endurance in running econoy

Answer 17

• shorter limbs
• decreased muscle mass
• decreased mechanical power
• decreased biomechanical efficiency
• increased oxygen consumption
• inefficient cooling mechanism:
• due to decreased blood volume
• increased skin temperature

Question 18

what is the difference in RR for neonates and older

Answer 18

neonates–> 40-60

>12yrs–> 15-20

Question 19

what is the effect of strength training in children 5-12yo

Answer 19

-increased strength and endurance due to neuromuscular adaptions rather than increased muscle fibre size (hypertrophy)

Question 20

how do environmental factors affect a childs functional movement

Answer 20

Critical periods
• time frame when stimuli have to be presented for
change to occur
• esp vision and hearing
Sensitive periods
• time frame when the child is open to change
Stimulation – protective factors
• child is not passive
• learning is interactive
• social, emotional
Deprivation – risk factors
• may or may not be permanent

Question 21

How is practice beneficial

Answer 21

cognition
• trial & error learning
• develop strategies for particular
environments
- practice is physical activity play

Question 22

what is unstructured and structured practice

Answer 22

Unstructured
• daily routines (infants)
• self-directed play (all ages)
Structured
• other-directed
• instructions
• limits

Question 23

how much active and quiet play do infants get in their day

Answer 23

active= approx. 18% = 2.4hrs

quiet= approx. 16%= 2.1hrs

Question 24

what is he brain development of different function in babies

Answer 24

-sensory pathways (vision and hearing), language and higher cognitive function are mostly developed within the first yr after birth

Question 25

how does practice/PA affect brain development

Answer 25

vigorous daily PA:

• decreased stress levels
• increased social skills
• increased brain development
• increased complexity of skills–> challenge not frustrate
• practice often (practice makes perfect!)

Question 26

what is generalisation of PA

Answer 26

experience / practice may facilitate

transfer of skill between environments and tasks

Question 27

what is specificity of PA

Answer 27

transfer of learning not evident

hence practice should be varied, intense and challenging