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Early Motor Milestones in Infancy and Later Motor Impairments: A Population-Based Data Linkage Study
Jing Hua1, Gareth J Williams2, Hua Jin3
1Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
|February 17, 2022
Summary
Delays in infant crawling and walking onset are linked to later motor impairments. Children with motor impairments show distinct crawling-to-walking transition patterns, aiding early identification.
Area of Science:
- Neurodevelopmental disorders
- Pediatric motor development
- Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)
Background:
- Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental condition.
- Early motor milestones, such as crawling and walking, are crucial indicators for identifying DCD.
- Understanding the relationship between these milestones and later motor impairments is essential for early detection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the association between the onset of crawling and independent walking during infancy and the development of later motor impairments.
- To analyze the transition patterns between crawling and walking in infants and their correlation with motor deficits.
- To identify early markers for motor impairments in children.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 8,395 children aged 3-6 years in China was analyzed.
- Parental questionnaires collected data on early motor milestone onset.
- Motor performance was assessed using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2nd edition (MABC-2).
- Multilevel regression models were employed to analyze the association between motor milestones and motor impairment.
Main Results:
- A 1-month delay in crawling onset increased the risk of overall motor impairment by 5.3% to 14.0%.
- A 1-month delay in walking onset elevated the risk of overall, fine, gross, and balance impairments by 21.7%, 8.3%, 13.3%, and 17.8%, respectively.
- An extended transition time from crawling to walking heightened the risk of overall and gross motor impairment by 7.7% and 6.6%.
Conclusions:
- Even minor delays in infant crawling and walking onset are associated with increased risks of subsequent motor impairments.
- Children with motor impairments exhibit distinct crawling-to-walking transition patterns compared to typically developing peers.
- These findings support early identification of motor impairments and timely intervention initiation.
