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Published on: January 15, 2018
Reaching and grasping movements in infants at risk: a review
Ana Carolina de Campos1, Nelci Adriana Cicuto Ferreira Rocha, Geert J P Savelsbergh
1Department of Physiotherapy, Neuropediatrics Section, University Federal of São Carlos, Rod Washington Luis, São Carlos-SP, Brazil. campos.anacarol@gmail.com
Insights
This review examines factors influencing reaching and grasping in at-risk infants, highlighting knowledge gaps. It analyzed studies on conditions like cerebral palsy and prematurity to understand motor development challenges.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Motor Control
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Extensive research exists on reaching and grasping in typical infants.
- Factors affecting motor skills in at-risk infants remain poorly understood.
- This study focuses on intrinsic and extrinsic influences on motor development in vulnerable populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review scientific literature from 1980-2008 on factors influencing reaching and grasping in at-risk infants.
- To describe the methodological approaches used in these studies.
- To identify research gaps concerning motor skill development in infants with developmental risks.
Main Methods:
- Bibliographical review of empirical studies.
- Searched databases: Medline, Lilacs, Science Direct.
- Keywords included: reaching movements, grasping, infants, risk, impairment, delay.
Main Results:
- 127 articles were identified, with 11 selected for review.
- Studied risk conditions included: prematurity, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, intrauterine cocaine exposure, and agenesis of corpus callosum.
- Analysis covered methodological issues and intrinsic/extrinsic factors.
Conclusions:
- Significant gaps exist in understanding motor development in at-risk infants.
- Further research is needed to explore methodological and theoretical aspects of reaching and grasping in these populations.
- This review provides a foundation for future studies on pediatric motor development.
Abstract:
Although the influence of intrinsic and extrinsic factors on the development of reaching and grasping skills in typical infants has been extensively described in the literature, the effect of such factors on at-risk infants is still poorly understood. Therefore, the aims of the present study were to analyze the scientific publications, from 1980 to 2008, about factors influencing reaching and grasping movements in infants at risk and to describe methodological procedures used in the studies under review. A bibliographical review on empirical studies indexed on Medline, Lilacs and Science Direct data bases was done, using as keywords the terms: "reaching movements", "grasping", "catching", "prehension", "infants", "children", "risk", "deficit", "impairment" and "delay". 127 articles were identified, and 11 were selected. The following risk conditions were assessed in the papers: prematurity, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, intrauterine cocaine exposure and agenesis of corpus callosum. Methodological issues as well as the intrinsic and extrinsic factors manipulated in the experiments are discussed in the light of changes in theoretical approach to motor behavior.
