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Postural adjustments during sitting at preschool age: presence of a transient toddling phase
M Hadders-Algra1, E Brogren, H Forssberg
1Department of Woman and Child Health, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
Insights
This study tracked postural adjustments in children from infancy to preschool age. Findings reveal a transient period of high muscle activity during sitting perturbations, followed by more variable responses as children mature.
Area of Science:
- Developmental neuroscience
- Motor control
- Biomechanics
Background:
- Postural control is crucial for maintaining balance during daily activities.
- Understanding developmental changes in postural adjustments provides insights into motor development and neurological maturation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate developmental changes in postural adjustments in children from infancy to preschool age.
- To analyze muscle activity patterns during postural perturbations in a sitting position.
Main Methods:
- Assessed postural responses in 21 healthy children aged 1.5 to 4.5 years using surface electromyography (EMG).
- Recorded EMG data from neck, trunk, and leg muscles during forward and backward translations on a moveable platform.
- Utilized comparable data from 11 infants (5-10 months) for longitudinal analysis.
Main Results:
- Identified a transient period (9-10 months and 2.5-3 years) with high, direction-specific agonist and antagonist muscle activity during sitting perturbations.
- Observed a shift after this period towards more variable agonist activity, especially during backward translations.
- Noted the disappearance of antagonist muscle activity in later stages.
Conclusions:
- Postural adjustment strategies evolve significantly during early childhood.
- Developmental changes in postural control are likely influenced by both biomechanical factors and nervous system maturation.
Abstract:
The present study investigated developmental changes in postural adjustments during preschool age. Postural responses during sitting on a moveable platform were assessed in 21 healthy children aged 1 1/2 to 4 1/2 years. Multiple surface EMGs of neck, trunk, and leg muscles were recorded during forward and backward translations. Comparable data were available for 11 infants seen three times between the ages of 5 and 10 months. The data revealed the existence of a transient period between the ages of 9 to 10 months and 2 1/2 to 3 years, during which perturbations in a sitting position are accompanied by high activity in the direction-specific agonist muscles and in the antagonist muscles. After this period, agonist activity became more variable, particularly so during backward translations, and antagonist activity disappeared. These changes could be attributed to biomechanical factors and to maturation of the nervous system.