Spontaneous motility disorders and postural control in infants (0-6 months of life) with a history of perinatal disorders

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Spontaneous motility disorders and postural control in infants (0-6 months of life) with a history of perinatal disorders

Journal Title: Rehabilitacja Medyczna - Year 2015, Vol 19, Issue 1

Abstract

Newborn infants with a history of perinatal neurological conditions require special monitoring. Their psychomotor development is determined by the potential damage to the structure of their immature nervous system, perinatal hypoxia or disharmony in motor development. However, muscle tension disorders and minor postural control issues, in the light of the high plasticity of the brain, can be independently adjusted. What is more, in most cases infants need help from the moment of birth, and the first signs of irregularities occur within the first weeks of life. The first signs of disturbances in motor development are frequently found by an infant’s parents or guardians. They have the opportunity to observe the infant in natural settings, such as during care, play or feeding. Careful clinical examination performed by a pediatric neurologist takes into account an assessment of the child’s eye contact, spontaneous motor activity and support and erectile mechanisms, and also evaluates the child’s neonatal reflexes and postural reactions (in the case of a diagnosis by Vaclav Vojta). Early physiotherapy intervention shall take action when the first signs of delayed motor development appear in the infant. Knowing the exact course of the child’s normal psychomotor development, a physical therapist can evaluate the qualitative and quantitative values of individual movement patterns. Postural control disorders inhibit the progress of spontaneous motor activity and the formation of support and erectile mechanisms. As a result of these irregularities, the learning of locomotion becomes limited or completely inhibited, and thus the segmental spine extension which is essential in obtaining rotation is stopped. Children with cerebral palsy never reach the quality of motor development of an infant over three months of age. Their impaired postural control, resulting from damage to the brain, inhibits the possibility of the extension of individual segments of the spine, especially their active setting them in the midline. Therefore, it is important that children undergo immediate therapy when the first symptoms of disorders of central nervous coordination appear.

Authors and Affiliations

Magdalena Czajkowska

Keywords

EP ID EP77695
DOI -
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