Functional movement in infants and children Flashcards
what is functional movement
• self chosen • self directed • meaningful in the life of the child at a particular point in time • goal directed
what is the dynamic systems theory
• cooperation of multiple systems at multiple levels
that are self-organising to achieve an outcome
what factors in the dynamic systems theory affect the outcome
Environment:
- social
- practice
- teaching
Child:
- body systems
- cognitive
- motivation
Task:
- gravity
- support surface
- GRF
- Task components
what is the infant reflex or primary stepping
- 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
what are some considerations of the dynamics system theory
• 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
what is stability
when a movement pattern is well
established (efficient), but still has flexibility to
be adaptable
what is instability
when a movement pattern is being
learnt; opportunities for teaching
what factors affect motor development
- stature, weight & body proportions
- skeletal growth
- brain development
- cardiac function
- respiratory system
- muscular system
- genetics & temperament
- environment
how does weight affect stature/motor behaiours
larger and heavier infants walk later
what is the difference in body proportions as the child grows
• head is disproportionately large compared to
the torso (difficulty extending in prone)
• lower CoM compared with adults
what is the change in skeletal growth of the tibio-femoral angle
- start of with varus till ~1yr
- go in valgus till 2-3yrs
- decreases and remains in slight varus normally
how does brain development progress from gestation to older years
- 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
what is the difference in cardiac function for babies
- decreased heart size
- decreased blood volume
- decreased stroke volume
- compensated by increased HR
- lower max cardiac capacity
- hence decreased high intensity exercise capacity
what is the change in HR
- faster HR when younger
- neonate= 100-170
- normal adult/>12yo= 60-100
what is the different in aerobic capacity
- increases with ages–> increase lung volume and flow rate
• little difference in VO2 between children and
adolescents
• VO2 peaks at 17-21 years
what is the difference in anaerobic capacity
• increases with age, peaks ~20 years
• decreased blood and muscle lactate levels
• fatigue quicker (energy derived more readily
aerobically)
why do babies have a decreased endurance in running econoy
- 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
what is the difference in RR for neonates and older
neonates–> 40-60
>12yrs–> 15-20
what is the effect of strength training in children 5-12yo
-increased strength and endurance due to neuromuscular adaptions rather than increased muscle fibre size (hypertrophy)
how do environmental factors affect a childs functional movement
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
How is practice beneficial
cognition • trial & error learning • develop strategies for particular environments - practice is physical activity play
what is unstructured and structured practice
Unstructured • daily routines (infants) • self-directed play (all ages) Structured • other-directed • instructions • limits
how much active and quiet play do infants get in their day
active= approx. 18% = 2.4hrs
quiet= approx. 16%= 2.1hrs
what is he brain development of different function in babies
-sensory pathways (vision and hearing), language and higher cognitive function are mostly developed within the first yr after birth
how does practice/PA affect brain development
vigorous daily PA:
- decreased stress levels
- increased social skills
- increased brain development
- increased complexity of skills–> challenge not frustrate
- practice often (practice makes perfect!)
what is generalisation of PA
experience / practice may facilitate
transfer of skill between environments and tasks
what is specificity of PA
transfer of learning not evident
hence practice should be varied, intense and challenging
