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Understanding order of movement in youngsters with cerebral palsy

J G Rothman1

  • 1Department of Physical Therapy, College of Allied Health Sciences, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107.

Perceptual and Motor Skills
|October 1, 1987
PubMed

Insights

Children with cerebral palsy show delayed cognitive development, specifically in understanding the order of movement. This physical handicap impacts their cognitive progress, highlighting the link between motor skills and cognitive abilities.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Neuroscience
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • A theoretical debate exists regarding the influence of early physical experiences and motor activity on cognitive development.
  • Understanding the relationship between motor skills and cognitive function is crucial for developmental research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of physical handicaps on cognitive development by comparing movement order understanding in children with and without cerebral palsy.
  • To provide empirical data to the ongoing theoretical discussion on motor activity and cognitive progression.

Main Methods:

  • A comparative study involving 60 nonambulatory children, with 30 diagnosed with cerebral palsy and 30 non-handicapped controls.
  • Participants were divided equally by gender and age into three groups: 4–5, 7–8, and 10–11 years old.
  • Utilized Piaget's order of movement task to assess cognitive understanding of sequential actions.

Main Results:

  • Children with cerebral palsy demonstrated a significant delay in understanding the order of movement compared to their non-handicapped peers.
  • The severity of the delay in cognitive development correlated with the presence of a physical handicap.

Conclusions:

  • Physical handicaps, such as cerebral palsy, can impede cognitive development.
  • Early physical experiences and motor activity appear to play a significant role in the trajectory of cognitive development.

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