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Training affects the development of postural adjustments in sitting infants
M Hadders-Algra1, E Brogren, H Forssberg
1Department of Woman and Child Health, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
The Journal of Physiology
|May 15, 1996
Summary
Daily balance training significantly enhances postural control development in infants. It improves muscle response selection and modulation, crucial for sitting stability and motor development.
Area of Science:
- Infant motor development
- Neuroscience
- Biomechanical engineering
Background:
- Postural adjustments are critical for independent sitting in infants.
- The development of postural control involves complex sensorimotor integration.
- Central Pattern Generator (CPG) models explain basic motor control mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of daily balance training on postural adjustments in infants.
- To determine if training influences the development of muscle activation patterns and response modulation.
- To explore the effects of training on different levels of the CPG model for postural control.
Main Methods:
- Assessed postural responses in 20 healthy infants (5-10 months) on a movable platform.
- Recorded surface electromyography (EMG) and kinematics during forward (Fw) and backward (Bw) platform displacements.
- Implemented daily balance training for 9 infants between assessment sessions.
Main Results:
- Training facilitated the selection of more complete muscle activation patterns with age.
- Balance training improved response modulation to platform velocity and initial position.
- Training accelerated the development of antagonist muscle activity and distal response onset.
Conclusions:
- Daily balance training positively influences the development of infant postural control.
- Training affects both the initial selection and modulation of postural responses.
- Findings support the role of training in refining CPG-level motor control strategies.