Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 17, 2026

Sit-to-stand-and-walk from 120% Knee Height: A Novel Approach to Assess Dynamic Postural Control Independent of Lead-limb
08:24

Sit-to-stand-and-walk from 120% Knee Height: A Novel Approach to Assess Dynamic Postural Control Independent of Lead-limb

Published on: August 30, 2016

Two steps forward and one back: Learning to walk affects infants' sitting posture

Li-Chiou Chen1, Jason S Metcalfe, John J Jeka

  • 1Department of Kinesiology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742-2611, USA.

Infant Behavior & Development
|February 13, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Infants

Area of Science:

  • Developmental neuroscience
  • Motor control
  • Human infant development

Background:

  • The development of upright posture is crucial for motor milestones.
  • Sitting is an early postural skill that is later influenced by walking.
  • Understanding postural development informs our knowledge of sensorimotor integration.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of the transition to walking on sitting posture.
  • To determine if postural control in sitting is disrupted by the emergence of walking.
  • To explore the sensorimotor re-calibration processes during infant development.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal study of nine infants from sitting onset to 9 months post-walking.
  • Postural sway was measured using center of pressure (COP) trajectory in a sitting posture.
  • Infants were tested independently and with a hand-touching support condition.

Main Results:

  • Postural sway in sitting peaked around the onset of walking, indicating a transient disruption.
  • Postural sway measures were significantly higher at the walking transition age compared to other ages.
  • Manual contact attenuated postural sway, but only during this critical transition period.

Conclusions:

  • The transition to independent walking temporarily disrupts established sitting postural control.
  • This disruption suggests a re-calibration of the internal model for sensorimotor control of posture.
  • Infant postural development involves adapting existing skills to accommodate new motor behaviors like walking.

More Related Videos

Quantifying Learning in Young Infants: Tracking Leg Actions During a Discovery-learning Task11:18

Quantifying Learning in Young Infants: Tracking Leg Actions During a Discovery-learning Task

Published on: June 1, 2015

Postural Organization of Gait Initiation for Biomechanical Analysis Using Force Platform Recordings06:21

Postural Organization of Gait Initiation for Biomechanical Analysis Using Force Platform Recordings

Published on: July 26, 2022

Related Concept Videos

Anatomical Positions01:11

Anatomical Positions

In anatomy, several standard anatomical positions are used as references for describing the position and orientation of different body parts. These positions help provide a common frame of reference when discussing anatomical structures. The anatomical position is the standard reference point for describing the body's position and orientation. In this position:
The body is upright, facing forward, and standing erect.
The feet are parallel and flat on the floor.
The arms are hanging by the...
Steps in the Modeling Process01:14

Steps in the Modeling Process

Albert Bandura's theory of observational learning identifies four critical processes: attention, retention, motor reproduction, and reinforcement or motivation.
Attention is the first necessary component for observational learning. It involves focusing on what the model is doing and saying. For example, if you decide to take a drawing class to enhance your skills, you need to pay close attention to the instructor's words and hand movements. The characteristics of the model significantly...