Infants born preterm demonstrate reduced task-specific exploration during the scaffolded kick-activated mobile task.

This study quantified the spatial exploration of 13 infants born very and extremely preterm (PT) at 4 months corrected age as they learned that moving their feet vertically to cross a virtual threshold activated an infant kick-activated mobile and compared results to 15 infants born full-term (FT) from a previously published study. Spatial exploration was quantified using two general spatial exploration variables (exploration volume, exploration path), two task-specific spatial variables (duration of time in the task-specific region of interest, vertical variance of kicks), and one non-task-specific spatial variable (horizontal variance of kicks). The infants born PT, similar to FT, increased their general spatial exploration and duration in the region of interest and did not change the vertical and horizontal variances of kicks.

Quantifying Infant Exploratory Learning.

Exploration is considered essential to infant learning, but few studies have quantified infants' task exploration. The purpose of this study was to quantify how infants explored task space with their feet while learning to activate a kick-activated mobile. Data were analyzed from fifteen 4-month-old infants who participated in a 10-min mobile task on 2-3 consecutive days.

Infants born preterm and infants born full-term generate more selective leg joint movement during the scaffolded mobile task.

Infants born very preterm (PT), prior to 32 weeks gestation, are at increased risk of developing cerebral palsy. Children with spastic cerebral palsy have impaired selective leg joint movement, which contributes to lifelong walking limitations. We investigated whether infants born PT generated more selective hip-knee joint movement (e.

Early Intervention for Children Aged 0 to 2 Years With or at High Risk of Cerebral Palsy: International Clinical Practice Guideline Based on Systematic Reviews.

Importance: Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common childhood physical disability. Early intervention for children younger than 2 years with or at risk of CP is critical. Now that an evidence-based guideline for early accurate diagnosis of CP exists, there is a need to summarize effective, CP-specific early intervention and conduct new trials that harness plasticity to improve function and increase participation.

Infants born full term and preterm increase the height of anti-gravity leg movements during a kick-activated mobile task using a scaffolded task environment.

Prior research supports that infants born very preterm (PT), compared with full term (FT), have early differences in rate of learning and motor control that may hinder their ability to learn challenging motor tasks. Four-month-old infants born FT (n = 18) and PT (n = 18) participated in an infant kick-activated mobile task that was scaffolded to motivate progressively higher kicks. We found the FT group learned the association between their leg movements and mobile activation on the second day, but the PT group learned the association on the third day.

In-Home Kicking-Activated Mobile Task to Motivate Selective Motor Control of Infants at High Risk of Cerebral Palsy: A Feasibility Study.

Objective: Children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP) have gait impairments resulting from decreased selective motor control, an inability to move the leg joints independently of one another, relying on excessive flexion or extension coupling across the 3 joints. Infants with white matter injury are at high risk of CP and have decreased selective motor control as early as 1 month corrected age. An in-home kicking-activated mobile task was developed to motivate more selective hip-knee control of infants at high risk of CP.

The effects of locomotor training in children with spinal cord injury: a systematic review.

Purpose: Discuss the effectiveness of locomotor training (LT) in children following spinal cord injury (SCI). This intervention was assessed following an exhaustive search of the literature using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta- Analyses: The PRISMA Statement as a guideline.

Method: Six databases were searched including PubMed, PEDro, CINAHL, Cochrane, PsycINFO, and Web of Knowledge in January 2016 and November 2016, without date restrictions.