Infant Motor Development

Abstract

Text is organized into four parts covering theory, research, assessment, and intervention. It integrates information from a variety of disciplines to encourage a broad understanding of infant motor development. Topics include the development of voluntary movements such as posture, stability, balance, and orientation; manual control of reaching and grasping; locomotor control of creeping and walking; the unique difficulties faced by premature infants; and an examination of two disabilities with devastating consequences to motor control: cerebral palsy and Down syndrome. Early movement capabilities -- Theoretical approaches to motor development -- Motor control and the brain: motor development and neural plasticity -- Postural control: development of stability, balance, and orientation -- Manual control: development of reaching and grasping -- Locomotion: development of creeping and walking -- Motor assessment tests -- Neurobehavioral motor assessment and other tests -- Diagnostic motor assessment and screening tests -- Motor development in preterm infants -- Cerebral palsy -- Down syndrome.