Presenter Information

Jancart, Karl, M.S.Ed.; Spirnak, Jessica; Boe, Claire; Delprince, Amber; Harbourne, Regina, PT, PhD; START-Play Consortium

Abstract

Functional Sitting Skill Development, Sitting Posture and the Relationship to Object Permanence in Infants with Motor Delays

Early in development, infant movement allows exploration and manipulation of objects, which builds cognition. Object permanence, the ability to understand that objects exist when they cannot be seen, is a cognitive construct developed in infancy, and has been shown to relate to early motor development, specifically self-mobility. However, the development of sitting may also contribute to building cognition through object understanding. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of functional sitting skill development, measured by a standardized clinical test (Gross Motor Function Measure [GMFM], sitting subscale) and sitting posture, measured by angular forward lean of the trunk in sitting. Sitting posture was measured by an iPad app, Angles Video Goniometer©. In this study, which is part of a larger early intervention study conducted in homes, 25 infants with severe motor disorders, mean age at baseline 10 months, were assessed for gains in object permanence, angle of trunk lean, and functional sitting between baseline and 3 months. A multiple linear regression was calculated to predict object permanence scores based on their change in GMFMsit scores and angle of trunk lean. A significant regression equation was found (F(2, 22)=9.63, p2 of .467. However, only GMFMsit was a significant predictor of object permanence scores (t=4.03, p=0.001). Infants who were able to achieve higher functional sitting skills were able to perform better on the cognitive measure regardless of “normal” posture. Infant improvements in sitting, even with adaptive postures, may impact the emergence of object permanence in young infants. This is important clinically because physical therapists often focus on alignment of posture in both early sitting and standing, at the expense of allowing functional adaptations that can drive cognitive advancement.

School

Rangos School of Health Sciences; School of Education

Advisor

Regina Harbourne

Submission Type

Poster

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Functional Sitting Skill Development, Sitting Posture and the Relationship to Object Permanence in Infants with Motor Delays

Functional Sitting Skill Development, Sitting Posture and the Relationship to Object Permanence in Infants with Motor Delays

Early in development, infant movement allows exploration and manipulation of objects, which builds cognition. Object permanence, the ability to understand that objects exist when they cannot be seen, is a cognitive construct developed in infancy, and has been shown to relate to early motor development, specifically self-mobility. However, the development of sitting may also contribute to building cognition through object understanding. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of functional sitting skill development, measured by a standardized clinical test (Gross Motor Function Measure [GMFM], sitting subscale) and sitting posture, measured by angular forward lean of the trunk in sitting. Sitting posture was measured by an iPad app, Angles Video Goniometer©. In this study, which is part of a larger early intervention study conducted in homes, 25 infants with severe motor disorders, mean age at baseline 10 months, were assessed for gains in object permanence, angle of trunk lean, and functional sitting between baseline and 3 months. A multiple linear regression was calculated to predict object permanence scores based on their change in GMFMsit scores and angle of trunk lean. A significant regression equation was found (F(2, 22)=9.63, p2 of .467. However, only GMFMsit was a significant predictor of object permanence scores (t=4.03, p=0.001). Infants who were able to achieve higher functional sitting skills were able to perform better on the cognitive measure regardless of “normal” posture. Infant improvements in sitting, even with adaptive postures, may impact the emergence of object permanence in young infants. This is important clinically because physical therapists often focus on alignment of posture in both early sitting and standing, at the expense of allowing functional adaptations that can drive cognitive advancement.