Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 2, 2026
Author Spotlight: Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Combined with Movement Observation in Cerebral Palsy
Published on: August 9, 2024
Motivation to Move in Toddlers With Cerebral Palsy
Tracy Kornafel1, Athylia C Paremski2, Julie A Skorup1
1Department of Physical Therapy, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Drs Kornafel, Skorup, and Alcott).
Insights
Motivation to move (MTM) in toddlers with cerebral palsy remained stable despite motor improvements. Early MTM and cognition predicted later motor function, suggesting potential for targeted interventions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Developmental Psychology
- Rehabilitation Science
Background:
- Motivation to move (MTM) is crucial for motor development in typically developing children.
- Limited research exists on MTM in children with disabilities, particularly cerebral palsy.
- Understanding MTM's role can inform interventions for optimizing motor outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the stability of MTM over time in toddlers with cerebral palsy.
- To examine the relationship between MTM and gross motor function, cognition, sex, and age.
- To identify predictors of later motor function in this population.
Main Methods:
- Secondary analysis of clinical trial data from 37 toddlers with cerebral palsy (ages 11.0-33.4 months, GMFCS I-IV).
- Assessment of MTM stability and its correlation with gross motor function, cognition, sex, and age.
- Statistical analysis to determine predictors of motor function.
Main Results:
- Higher MTM at baseline correlated with better gross motor function and cognition.
- MTM remained stable throughout the trial period, despite observed improvements in motor function.
- Initial MTM and cognitive scores significantly predicted subsequent motor function, while sex did not.
Conclusions:
- MTM may be acquired through successful early movement experiences.
- Understanding MTM dynamics in cerebral palsy is key to developing strategies for enhanced motivation and motor development.
- Further research is needed across diverse age groups and populations.
Purpose:
The relation between motivation to move (MTM) and motor development has been explored in typically developing children, but not those with disabilities.
Methods:
We conducted a secondary analysis of data from 37 toddlers with cerebral palsy (age: 11.0-33.4 months, Gross Motor Function Classification System I-IV) enrolled in a clinical trial. We measured MTM's stability over time and its relations to gross motor function, cognition, sex, and age.
Results:
At baseline, greater MTM was related to higher gross motor function and cognition. Despite improvements in motor function over the trial period, MTM remained stable. Initial MTM and cognition, but not sex, were significant predictors of later motor function.
Conclusions:
We hypothesize that MTM is learned from successful movement experiences at very young ages. Understanding the evolution of MTM in children with cerebral palsy may be useful to develop strategies to facilitate motivation and optimize motor development. Further study in other age groups and populations is needed.
More Related Videos
08:24Author Spotlight: Exploring the Potential of Massage Therapy in Cerebral Palsy Using Animal Models
Published on: August 11, 2023
08:26Event-related Potentials During Target-response Tasks to Study Cognitive Processes of Upper Limb Use in Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy
Published on: January 11, 2016
