Week 1.1 Motor Development Theories and Principles

Question 1

why should we learn about normal motor development

Answer 1

we need to know what normal vs abnormal is, and it can help us show the way a child is participating and how they are lacking

Question 2

what is the neural- maturationist theory of development

Answer 2

development is driven the brain and CNS, and is genetically predetermined and neurologically driven by primitive brain reflexes. We grow and more reflexes will appear. this is linear and predictable, and is the nature side of the argument

Question 3

how does treatment for the neural- maturationist occur

Answer 3

via inhibition of the primitive reflexes and facilitating the righting and equilibrium reactions

Question 4

what is the cognitive theory of development

Answer 4

environmental controls this, and your experiences drive your development. Your early movements are based on primitive movements, and you learn voluntary movements through trial and error.

Question 5

what is the dynamical systems theory

Answer 5

nature, and nurture, this is when environment and individual are both important

Question 6

what is the most widely accepted theory

Answer 6

the dynamical systems theory

Question 7

the dynamical systems theory has 4 components, what are they

Answer 7

sensorimotor, mechanical, cognitive and task

Question 8

according to the dynamical systems theory, what are the views of locomotion development

Answer 8

pattern generation of the coordinative structure leading to reciprocal LE activity (alternating flexor muscle activation)

Question 9

what does the DST say about reciprocal activity

Answer 9

reciprocal flexors and extensors

Question 10

what does the DST say about extensor muscles

Answer 10

they are strong to overcome the force of gravity

Question 11

what are other factors that the DST says about locomotion

Answer 11

• changes in body size and composition
• antigravity control of upright posture
• decoupling of the tight synchronous
• characteristic of early reciprocal movements (knees move out of sync with ankles and hips).
• visual flow sensitivity required to maintain posture while moving through the environment
• recognize requirements of the test, and motivated to move to goal

Question 12

according to the DST, what are we looking for in PEDS

Answer 12

searching for constraints on the subsystems that limit motor behavior

Question 13

what do we want to create

Answer 13

an environment that supports or compensates for weaker or less mature components of the system

Question 14

how do we want to practice tasks

Answer 14

in a meaningful and practical way within functional context

Question 15

what do we want to promote

Answer 15

exploration of a variety of movement patters, that may be appropriate for the task

Question 16

DST focuses on reaching the goal…

Answer 16

in whatever way you can, and in whatever way is necessary

Question 17

what do we want to search for

Answer 17

control parameters that may be manipulated by the intervention (things to increase strength, balance, ROM)

Question 18

when we think about intervention, what 3 things do we think about

Answer 18

the child
the task
the environment

Question 19

what does it mean when we say direction of development

Answer 19

is it cepalocaudal (head to toe) 
or proximodistal (inside to out)

Question 20

expand on cepalocaudal (based on…)

Answer 20

you lift the head before you have control of the trunk, before you have control of the pelvis. this is based on extensor strength

Question 21

what about the head makes development hard

Answer 21

your head is big, and you need to grow into it, It is hard to get the head over the BOS for walking

Question 22

what characteristics impact the direction of development,

Answer 22

the size, shape, body fat…

Question 23

expand on proximodistal

Answer 23

you need proximal control before you can move the extremities

Question 24

what happens to distal abilities if you have poor trunk control

Answer 24

they can be masked

Question 25

in terms of neural maturation, what is the theory of neuronal group selection

Answer 25

you have 2 genetic codes, pre-programmed and experience

Question 26

what is the difference between experience dependent and experience expectant maturation

Answer 26

the experience is shaped by the enviro, but there is still a motor plan for those experience and motor development

Question 27

what happens with synapses in the first years of life

Answer 27

there is an explosion in the number, meaning there is a lot produced. You then learn a new task in that window, before the extras and unused are pruned away.

Question 28

is motor development stage like or continuous

Answer 28

more stage like

Question 29

is development progression spiral or linear. give an example

Answer 29

spiral, you develop and regress, and then come out with even more
EXAMPLE: babies may start out with an army crawl (reciprocal arm movements) and then go back to creeping (arms together) before going back to that reciprocal arm movement crawl.

Question 30

are motor milestones set in stone, or arbitrary

Answer 30

arbitrary