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

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Infant sitting postural control appears robust across changes in surface context

Elena Kokkoni1, Joshua L Haworth2, Regina T Harbourne3

  • 1a Biomechanics and Movement Science Program , University of Delaware , Newark , DE , USA.

Somatosensory & Motor Research
|February 8, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Infants

Area of Science:

  • Developmental neuroscience
  • Motor control
  • Infant development

Background:

  • Independent sitting in infants relies on visual, vestibular, and somatosensory systems.
  • The role of somatosensory input in infant sitting posture remains underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the contribution of somatosensory information to postural control in 7-month-old infants.
  • To examine immediate postural responses to altered support surfaces.

Main Methods:

  • Ten 7-month-old infants participated.
  • Infants sat on compliant and firm foam surfaces.
  • Postural control was measured using center of pressure (COP) data, analyzing spatial, frequency, and temporal parameters.

Main Results:

  • Infants' postural sway was not significantly affected by the different foam surfaces.
  • Immediate postural responses did not differ between compliant and firm surfaces.

Conclusions:

  • Mature infant sitters may adapt to varying environmental constraints by down-weighting distorted somatosensory information.
  • Infants appear to rely more on visual and vestibular senses for postural control when somatosensory input is altered.
Abstract

Keywords:
Developmentposturesomatosensory

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