Motor Development Across the First Year

Question 1

Hallmark Motor Milestones

Answer 1

4-6 mo: Rolls prone to supine
4-6 mo: Rolls supine to prone
6-7 mo: Sits alone
8-10 mo: Creeps on hands & knees
12 mo: Walks alone

Question 2

Cephalocaudal Development

Answer 2

First quarter of first year of life:
Control of head in all positions in space

Second quarter of first year of life:
Control of arms and upper trunk

Third quarter of first year of life:
Control of lower trunk and pelvis in the upright position

Fourth quarter of first year of life:
Control and mobility of the lower parts of the legs in upright stance

Question 3

Functional Head Control

Answer 3

Birth:
Vertical head position only sustainable for 1-2 sec.
Can turn head to clear airway

3 months:
Synergistic control of neck flexors and extensors
-Stable vertical head position
-Able to turn head freely

4 months:
Organized eye-head-hand control seen in prone
Lack of/decreased head control

Question 4

Upright Trunk Control

Answer 4

4 months
Prone
Extending the head and trunk
Legs and pelvis are load-bearing
-Caudal weight shift

6 months
Independent sitting with object manipulation achieved

Question 5

Lower Trunk Control in the Upright Position

Answer 5

Control of lower trunk and pelvis allows for:
7 mo. – Crawling & creeping
8 mo – Pulling to stand
8 mo – Moving in and out of quadruped and sitting

Freedom from midline symmetry
Rotational abilities

Question 6

Fine Lower Extremity Control

Answer 6

Control of trunk and pelvis
-Reciprocal lower extremity movement

8-9 mo – Creeping
9-11 mo – Supported walking
11 – 15 mo – Independent walking

Question 7

Developmental Sequence

Answer 7

Follows predictable sequence/pattern

Universality
-Predictable patterns

Variability

• Individual differences
• Cultural

e.g. Establishing PT plan of care

Question 8

norm-referenced tests

Answer 8

Comparecriterion-refere client with “norm” or average of a group of similar individuals
Purpose is to discriminate
E.g. AIMS

Question 9

criterion-referenced tests

Answer 9

Compare performance of same child in terms of level of mastery
Purpose is to evaluate
E.g. Gross Motor Functional Measure (GMFM)

Question 10

Peabody (PDMS-2)

Answer 10

both norm and criterion referenced

Question 11

corrected age

Answer 11

If child is born before 37 weeks gestation
Different cut off points for various tests
Clinically, age 2 years stop correcting