2. First two months - Continuation of foetal behavior
Third month - Major transformation of many neural
functions occurs, and only then is the young human infant
much more adapted to the requirements of extra-uterin
life (Prechtl 1984a, 1984b)
- Infant’s muscle power increases;
- The body posture changes from a body-oriented to a
space-oriented postural control
(Prechtl 1989a)
3. With the exception of the developmental delay, the
developing organism is during each developmental stage
adapted to the internal and external requirements
Each developmental stage must be studied in its own
right and not in relation to later developmental stages
At different ages we are dealing with qualitatively different
nervous systems
4. These differences comprise the structure as well as the
functional repertoire
5. Spontaneous movements
Young human nervous system endogenously, i.e. without
being constantly triggered by specific sensory input,
generates a variety of motor patterns
Contradicts sherrington
6. General movements
From the rich repertoire of distinct spontaneous movement
patterns the so-called general movements (GMs)
GMs involve the whole body in a variable sequence of arm,
leg, neck and trunk movements. They wax and wane in
intensity, force and speed, and they have a gradual
beginning and end.
Rotations along the axis of the limbs and slight changes in the
direction of movements make them fluent and elegant (Prechtl
1990)
8. 9 to 10 weeks postmenstrual age
Complex and generalised movements occur
These are the so-called general movements and the
startles
9. 10 to 11 weeks
Local and isolated
movements of one arm or
leg emerge
Traditionally, it is
accepted that the early
ontogenetic process goes
from cranial to caudal
However, motor system
does not follow this rule
10.
11.
12. 6- 9 weeks post terms writhing disappears
Fidgety GM gradually emerge at the end of 9 weeks
Fidgety movements are present up to the end of the first
half-year of life
Intentional and antigravity movements occur and start to
dominate after the end of fidgety movements
13. Preterm General Movements
No difference can be observed between
foetal and preterm GM
Neither the increase of the force of
gravity after birth nor maturation has an
influence on the appearance of GMs
15. Fidgety movements
3 months
Fidgety movements are small movements of moderate speed and
variable acceleration, of neck, trunk and limbs, in all directions, continual in
the awake infant ( except during fussing and crying)
16. General movements change their quality if the nervous
system is impaired
GMs lose their complex and variable character and have
a poor repertoire, and are cramped-synchronised or
chaotic
20. Interference with the movement quality
Skin-to-skin holding, also known as kangaroo care -
shown to be beneficial for the preterm infant
Drugs
Septicemia, glucose transport disease, protein
breakdown of muscle tissue affect GM
Siezures movements are stereotyped (monotonous)
21. Contextual factors
FM are not affected by proprioceptive loading – Fidgety
movements remain the same even if the infant is
weighted on one side with up to 140 grams per arm and
leg
22. Contextual factors
Environmental interferences do not change the quality
nor the temporal organisation of fidgety movements
It is to be noted that the major function of the young
nervous system is to generate spontaneous activity:
spontaneous activity that is robust and relatively
independent of sensory stimulation
Fidgety movements are a transient but very stable and
predominant feature of the young nervous system
23. None of the stimuli change the quality of fidgety
movements, however, the temporal organization changes
For e.g. decrease or stop of fidgety movements last for
about 20 seconds and subsequently followed by an
increase - therefore highly interesting toy must be
avoided
24. Impact of sound and social interference
Short and unfamiliar sounds up to 88 dB do not influence
the temporal organization of fidgety movements –
implication - one need not necessarily assess the infant
in a quiet room
Social interference - fidgety movements are not
influenced by social interference
25. Summary
Fidgety movements may be considered as an age-
specific fine-tuning of the proprioceptive system
FM are not affected by proprioceptive loading – Fidgety
movements remain the same even if the infant is
weighted on one side with up to 140 grams per arm and
leg