Motor Development Deficits Research Articles

Equine assisted services - an intervention in the motor disorders of a child with cytomegalovirus sequelae

Cytomegalovirus infection (CMV) represents the most prevalent infection correlated with congenital neurological impairment. After infection occurs several factors contribute for the child to have motor development deficits and possibly present several neurological manifestations. Equine assisted services- therapeutic and educational method that uses the horse within an interdisciplinary approach has shown positive results in the intervention of neurological dysfunctions. The objective to analyze the effect of equine assisted services on the gross motor function of a participant with sequelae caused by CMV infection. A quantitative and descriptive case study. It consisted of assessments pre- and post-equine assisted services interventions using the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM). The child participating in the study is classified as level III according to the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS). The results indicate a percentage increase in the total average between the pre- and post-intervention assessments, with results of 31.9 and 50.3%, respectively, and evolution in three of the five dimensions assessed through the GMFM, which are: lying and rolling, sitting, crawling and kneeling. It is concluded that equine assisted services are an effective tool for improving gross motor function of a participant with sequelae caused by cytomegalovirus infection.

The Role and Importance of Obstacle Course Training for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Aim: In this study, we set out to describe the motor development deficits of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) based on existing research and to provide a methodologically based recommendation for the use of obstacle courses as a motor development tool and opportunity for children with ASD. Methods: a primary research study was conducted to present the results of semi-structured in-depth interviews with parents of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (N=25). The aim of the study was to provide a comprehensive summary of the experiences of a group of 25 interview participants whose children with autism spectrum disorder participated in an obstacle course movement development programme. The interviews explored the impact of obstacle course movement development on the children's various skills (motor, social, communication and emotional/behavioural). Results: the parents' experiences confirmed that the obstacle course physical activity programme, which was provided for at least six months, was not only effective in developing children's gross motor and fine motor skills, but also led to positive changes in social relationships, social skills, communication skills and emotional behaviour.

O desenvolvimento motor e a aquisição de habilidades motoras em autistas

O desenvolvimento motor e as habilidades motoras em crianças autistas ainda permanecem pouco compreendidas. Estudos sugerem fortes relações entre o transtorno do espectro autista (TEA) com déficits do desenvolvimento motor e a aquisição de habilidades motoras, mas apesar disso, ainda hoje, essa questão não é considerada como critério diagnóstico. Fator intrigante entre os pesquisadores da área. A presente pesquisa realizou uma Revisão Integrativa da Literatura (RIL), com o objetivo de relacionar estudos sobre o desenvolvimento motor e a aquisição das habilidades motoras em crianças com TEA quando comparadas com crianças típicas. A pesquisa foi relizada na base de dados do Pub Med, através dos descritores “autismo” e “desenvolvimento motor” e “habilidades motoras”, após a aplicação dos critérios de inclusão e exclusão foram selecionados quinze artigos para análise. Os estudos incluídos apresentam um consenso razoável sobre a existência de atrasos motores em crianças com TEA, contudo em sua quase unanimidade, apontam para a necessidade de pesquisas mais aprofundadas por motivos diversos, seja pelo baixo número de participantes ou pelas dificuldades de isolar as caracterísitcas autísticas, em seus diferentes níveis.

Motor Function in School-Aged Children With Positional Plagiocephaly or Brachycephaly.

To determine whether children with a history of positional plagiocephaly/brachycephaly (PPB) show persistent deficits in motor development. In a longitudinal cohort study, we completed follow-up assessments with 187 school-aged children with PPB and 149 participants without PPB who were originally enrolled in infancy. Primary outcomes were the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-Second Edition (BOT-2) composite scores. Children with PPB scored lower than controls on the BOT-2. Stratified analyses indicated that differences were restricted to children who had moderate-severe PPB. No consistent differences were observed in children who had mild PPB. Children who had moderate-severe PPB in infancy show persistent differences in motor function. We suggest close developmental monitoring and early intervention to address motor deficits.

Urban natural environments and motor development in early life

An emerging body of evidence has associated natural environments with improved brain development in children; however, these studies have mainly focused on cognition and available evidence for motor development is still scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the protective association of neighbourhood greenspace with motor development deficits in children. We obtained data on motor development deficits (separately for fine and gross motor developments) at sub-district level from routine medical check-up of children prior to enrolment into primary schools in the city of Berlin (2015–2016). Neighbourhood natural environments across the sub-districts were measured with three different metrics: the average of satellite-based normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), the share of public green spaces, and the share of both public blue and green spaces (composite nature) across the sub-district. We applied negative binominal models to estimate the association between neighbourhood natural environments and fine and gross motor development deficits (one at a time), controlled for relevant sociodemographic indicators. Higher neighbourhood public green space and composite nature were significantly associated with lower risk of motor development deficits; however, the association were not statistically significant when using NDVI. Our findings, if confirmed by future studies, could provide evidence for implementing targeted interventions to enhance motor development in urban children.

Comparison of dynamic balance between deaf and normal children using the functional reach test: An observational study

Background: Deafness refers to complete loss of hearing ability. Children with hearing impairment have deficits in motor development majorly in balance. Vestibular system maturation is achieved by age of 10-14 years which is related to motor development. As dynamic balance is more affected than static balance in deaf children, Functional Reach Test (FRT) is used to measure dynamic balance. Hence there was a need to compare dynamic balance in deaf and normal children in the age group 7-18.Objectives: To compare dynamic balance in normal and deaf children using FRT and to find the common strategy used by these children for dynamic balance.Materials and Methods: An observational study with 191 deaf and normal children in age group of 7-18 years with no physical impairments were recruited in the study using convenience sampling as per the inclusion criteria. The outcome measure used for the study was FRT. It is the maximum distance one can reach beyond arm's distance while maintaining a fixed base of support in standing position. The test was administered in both the groups and their results were compared and the most common strategy used to perform the test was noted.Results: There was significant difference in dynamic balance between both the groups (P = 0.006). Normal children used hip strategy more frequently as compared to deaf children while ankle strategy was used twice as much in deaf children compared to normal children.Conclusion: The present study concluded that dynamic balance is reduced in deaf children in the age group 7 to 18 years.

Can motor development at age seven predict spinal pain at age eleven?

Introduction The combination of three arguments has led us to hypothesize that improvement of early motor skills might have potential for prevention of spinal pain: –a large body of experimental and clinical research implicates disordered motor control, or core stability, in adults with low back pain; –there is evidence that spinal pain originates in childhood or adolescence; –motor development deficits observed in childhood have been shown to track into adolescence. This study is a first step in this line of inquiry and aims to investigate the relationship between motor skills and coordination at age seven and spinal pain at age eleven. Methods The mothers of 43,000 seven-year-old children answered the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCDQ), which has three subscales: ‘control during movement’, ‘fine motor skills’ and ‘general coordination’. At age eleven, 30,000 of these children answered a questionnaire (YSQ) about frequency and intensity of cervical, thoracic and lumbar pain. Pain was described as either ‘pain’ or ‘severe pain’, both with a frequency of ‘sometimes’ or ‘often’. ‘Pain’ required an intensity of ≥ 2 on the FacesPainScale-Revised (FPS-R) (equivalent to ≥ 3 on an 11-point scale) and ‘severe pain’ ≥ 3 on the FPS-R (equivalent to ≥ 5 on an 11-point scale). Associations were explored by logistic regression analyses and all estimates were adjusted for sex, mother's schooling, height, and weight at age 7. Results The total DCDQ score was significantly associated with spinal pain (OR: 1.29; 95% CI: 1.10–1.50). This association was driven by associations with cervical and thoracic pain; there was no association with lumbar pain detected. The general coordination subscale score was the strongest predictor of pain. Compared to the children in the top 10%, those in the bottom 10% had higher odds of cervical (OR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.18–1.69), and thoracic pain (OR: 1.51; 95% CI: 1.18–1.92). The results were almost identical for severe pain. Conclusions Other health-related aspects or psychological factors are not included in these analyses and their influence on the shown associations is unknown. Future research should explore the relationship between motor skills, health and psychological measures to optimize strategies for improving spinal health. In the prevention of spinal pain, motor- and coordination skills may be a possible risk indicator and a potential target for intervention.

Preweaning iron deficiency increases non-contingent responding during cocaine self-administration in rats

Iron deficiency (ID) is the most prevalent single-nutrient deficiency worldwide. There is evidence that ID early in development (preweaning in rat) causes irreversible neurologic, behavioral, and motor development deficits. Many of these effects have been attributed to damage to dopamine systems, including ID-induced changes in transporter and receptor numbers in the striatum and nucleus accumbens. These mesolimbic dopaminergic neurons are, in part, responsible for mediating reward and thus play a key role in addiction. However, there has been relatively little investigation into the behavioral effects of ID on drug addiction. In 2002, we found that rats made ID from weaning (postnatal day 21) and throughout the experiment acquired cocaine self-administration significantly more slowly than controls and failed to increase responding when the dose of the drug was decreased. In the present study, we assessed addiction for self-administered cocaine in rats with a history of preweaning ID only during postnatal days 4 through 21, and iron replete thereafter. The results showed that while ID did not affect the number of cocaine infusions or the overall addiction-like behavior score, ID rats scored higher on a measure of continued responding for drug than did iron replete controls. This increase in responding, however, was less goal-directed as ID rats also responded more quickly to the non-rewarded manipulandum than did control rats. Thus, while ID early in infancy did not significantly increase addiction-like behaviors for cocaine in this small study, the pattern of data suggests a possible underlying learning or performance impairment. Future studies will be needed to elucidate the exact neuro-behavioral deficits that lead to the increase in indiscriminate responding for drug in rats with a history of perinatal ID.

Follow-up of extreme neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia in 5- to 10-year-old children: a Danish population-based study.

To investigate whether infants with neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia but without intermediate or advanced bilirubin encephalopathy develop long-term sequelae, with impairment of motor development, executive function, or hearing. This nested double-cohort study included 167 exposed children (107 males, 60 females) born in Denmark 2000 to 2005 at gestational age ≥35 weeks with a total serum bilirubin ≥450 μmol/L (26.3mg/dL) and 163 age-, sex-, and gestational age-matched unexposed children (103 males, 60 females). The children were examined at a mean age of 7.7 years (SD 1.7y) using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-Second Edition (MABC-2), pure tone audiometry, and the Behavioural Regulation Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) questionnaire. The follow-up rate was 70% of the eligible infants in the exposed group and 45% in the unexposed group. Mean difference was -0.2 (95% confidence interval [CI] -1.1 to 0.8) in adjusted standard score for MABC-2 and 0.3 (95% CI -2.9 to 3.5) in adjusted BRIEF executive composite standard score. No children had significant hearing impairment or a diagnosis of cerebral palsy, attention-deficit-hyperactive disorder, or autism spectrum disorder recorded in national registries. No evidence was found of an increased risk of deficits in motor development, executive function, or hearing in children with extreme hyperbilirubinaemia who did not have intermediate or advanced bilirubin encephalopathy.

Prenatal diagnosed caudal regression syndrome

Background: Caudal regression syndrome (CRS) is a rare complex congenital anomaly which is characterized by agenesis of the sacral and lumbar spine. Pelvis, lower extremity, genitourinary, cardiac anomalies and lower extremity neurological and motor development deficits may be accompanied. The exact etiology is unclear but the maternal insulindependent diabetes mellitus (hyperglycaemia during embryogenesis seems to act as a teratogen), genetic factors, vascular hypoperfusion may play a role in the etiology. Case: A 41-year-old gravida 4, para 2, live 1, abortus 1 patient with 35 weeks of gestation. The patient had 12-year history of type 1 diabetes mellitus. In ultrasonographic examination we found the length of the bones (all the upper and lower bones) 8 weeks underdeveloped and didn’t observe the lumbar, sacral vertebrae and iliac bones. Lower extremities were crossed in froglike position, there wasn’t lower extremity movements. Due to sacral agenesia the head of the femurs were closer. Also pes equinovarum deformity, single umbilical artery, kidneys in contact at the midline were present. All of these findings indicated the diagnosis of caudal regression syndrome. Conclusion: Diabetes is increased fetal anomalities in pregnancy. Diabetic pregnancy should be more evaluated than pregnancies with no risk. Antenatal care should be done more carefully. Especially, prenatal maternal blood glucose levels and HbA1cis most important for prevention of fetal anomalities.

1058 New Segmentation Method Shows Effects of Prematurity on Cerebral Tissue Volumes at Term

Background and AimLongitudinal studies show that premature birth increases infants’ risk for mental and motor development deficits. Our aim was to investigate the influence of prematurity on cerebral tissue volumes...

Baixo peso ao nascer e alterações no desenvolvimento motor: a realidade atual

OBJETIVO: Realizar uma revisão da literatura sobre fatores que influenciam o déficit de desenvolvimento motor em crianças com baixo peso ao nascer. FONTES DE DADOS: Estudos com crianças com baixo peso ao nascer, publicados no período de 1984 a 2008 nas bases de dados Medline e SciELO, usando as palavras chaves "baixo peso ao nascer" e " desenvolvimento motor", na língua inglesa. SÍNTESE DE DADOS: Embora diferenças no desenvolvimento entre crianças nascidas a termo e pré-termo sejam observadas com certa frequência, o seu entendimento ainda é um grande desafio para profissionais da saúde. O uso de diferentes testes e escores dificulta o diagnóstico, o manejo e a previsão dos déficits de desenvolvimento. Resultados heterogêneos são relatados dependendo do método de avaliação, idade e população estudada. Como é esperado que crianças com baixo peso ao nascer tenham risco para problemas cognitivos, motores e comportamentais, estudos abordando práticas de intervenção precoce seriam esperados; entretanto, isso não é observado. CONCLUSÕES: Devido à relação entre desenvolvimento motor e os outros domínios de desenvolvimento, é importante que o achado da alteração motora seja usado como uma variável diagnóstica e que os resultados encontrados sejam padronizados para melhor entendimento dos déficits que crianças com baixo peso ao nascer possam desenvolver

MOTOR DEVELOPMENT AND PSYCHOMOTOR TRAINING FOR CHILDREN, AGED 7 - 14 YEARS, WITH CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE (CHD)

PURPOSE: The motor development of children with congenital heart disease (CHD) is often deficient due to a lack of physical exercise. It was the aim of this study to evaluate such deficits in motor development and investigate if they can be reduced by a special psychomotor training program. METHODS: Between 1994 and 1996 three groups of children participated in an 8 month psychomotor training program, consisting of 1.5 hour weekly sessions. The sample comprised a total of 38 children between the ages of 7.2 and 14.4 years (10.4 ± 1.7 yrs). The 38 children presented with a variety of congenital heart diseases (spectrum: single ventricle to fully corrected heart defects). We used the body-coordination-test (KTK) for children (SCHILLING, 1974) to examine the motor development of the children before and after the program. RESULTS: The pre-test results demonstrate deficits in the motor development of the child-participants. According to the classification scheme of Schilling (1974) the complete KTK-motorquotient showed in the pre-test 2.8% of the children with good and 36.1% with normal motor development. 22.2% had moderate 38.9% sever motor disturbance. In the post-test 11.1% of the CHD-children could be classified with good and 50% with normal motor development, 8.3% still showed moderate and 30.6% severe motor disturbance. The results of the total KTK-motorquotient (GMQ) and its subtests (MQ1-4) improved significantly due to the program (GMQ from 83.0 ± 16.4 to 92.9 ± 18.2; MQ1 from 87.7 ± 15.4 to 94.0 ± 17.3; MQ2 from 91.1 ± 17.2 to 93.8 ± 16.3; MQ3 from 86.6 ± 18.3 to 97.2 ± 16.1; MQ4 from 82.3 ± 13.6 to 93.5 ± 16.5). CONCLUSION: The pre-test results showed that 63.2% of the child-participants suffered from deficits in motor development. The complete MQ improved significantly following the psychomotor training program, as demonstrated by the post-test, where 61% of the children were classified as having “normal motor development” or better. These results emphasise the need for special psychomotor training programs for CHD-children. Such programs should begin at an early age to avoid initial deficiencies in motor functional development and, if necessary, to catch up on movement experiences. Also, preventative strategies whose aim it is to integrate CHD-children in kindergarten and school sports and normal outdoor activity should be implemented to the fullest to counteract the effect of this cardiac diagnosis.

Kinaesthetic Acuity and Motor Skills of Preschool Children with a Congenital Visual Impairment Preliminary Findings

ABSTRACTThis paper presents the preliminary findings of a study examining the impact of congenital visual impairment on the development of motor skills and kinaesthetic acuity. Studies of children with a visual impairment have consistently noted deficits in motor development. It was hypothesised that these deficits may be linked with poor kinaesthetic sensitivity. Six preschool children with a visual impairment (mean age 55.17 months) were compared to nine classmates (mean age 56.67 months) matched for age, gender, and general verbal ability, on modified tasks from the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (M-ABC) and the Kinaesthetic Acuity Test (KAT). Although the difference between groups was significant for one task only (static balance), it was noted that all differences observed were in the hypothesised direction. Further longitudinal or cross-sectional data are required to provide a more comprehensive analysis of the relationship between vision impairment, kinaesthetic development, and motor skills.

A preliminary evaluation of the cognitive and motor effects on pediatric HIV infection in Zairian children.

Fourteen asymptomatic HIV-infected Zairian children under 2 years of age displayed social and motor developmental deficits on the Denver Developmental Screening Test when compared with 20 HIV-negative cohorts born to HIV-infected mothers and 16 control children. In a second study, 11 infected children over 2 years of age had sequential motor and visual-spatial memory deficits on the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children and motor development deficits on the Early Childhood Screening Profiles. HIV infection affects central nervous system structures mediating motor and spatial memory development, even in seemingly asymptomatic children. Furthermore, maternal HIV infection compromises the labor-intensive provision of care in the African milieu and undermines global cognitive development in even uninfected children.Language and motor skill deficits have been noted for HIV-infected children when tested with Stanford-Binet. With the McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities, quantitative, verbal, and memory ability deficits have also been documented with infected children and are particularly significant for those children with accompanying neurological impairment from the virus. Deficits of visual-spatial integrative ability and memory have also been identified with the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children. This paper reports results from a direct comparison of differences in cognitive and motor skills development between HIV-1-seropositive and HIV-1-seronegative children born to infected African mothers. Both subgroups were subsequently compared to a third group of HIV-negative children born to noninfected mothers in order to better assess some of the second-order effects of the epidemic upon the development of children who are not themselves infected, but who bear the consequences of the disease in the form of illness of the primary caregiver, and the hardship which that imposes upon the entire family. Such factors are most likely especially severe for nonaffluent families in developing countries. 14 asymptomatic HIV-infected Zairian children under 2 years old displayed social and motor developmental deficits on the Denver Developmental Screening Test when compared with 20 HIV-negative cohorts born to HIV-infected mothers and 16 control children. In the second study, 11 infected children over 2 years old had sequential motor and visual-spatial memory deficits on the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children and motor development deficits on the Early Childhood Screening Profiles. The authors conclude that HIV infection affects central nervous system structures mediating motor and spatial memory development, even in seemingly asymptomatic children. Moreover, maternal HIV infection compromises the labor-intensive provision of care in the African milieu and undermines global cognitive development in even uninfected children.

A preliminary evaluation of the cognitive and motor effects on pediatric HIV infection in Zairian children.

Fourteen asymptomatic HIV-infected Zairian children under 2 years of age displayed social and motor developmental deficits on the Denver Developmental Screening Test when compared with 20 HIV-negative cohorts born to HIV-infected mothers and 16 control children. In a second study, 11 infected children over 2 years of age had sequential motor and visual-spatial memory deficits on the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children and motor development deficits on the Early Childhood Screening Profiles. HIV infection affects central nervous system structures mediating motor and spatial memory development, even in seemingly asymptomatic children. Furthermore, maternal HIV infection compromises the labor-intensive provision of care in the African milieu and undermines global cognitive development in even uninfected children.