RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PRONE POSTURE AND THE ACQUISITION OF INDEPENDENT SITTING IN INFANTS: A LONGITUDINAL STUDY

• Grant number: 23/13205-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2024
• End date: July 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Eloisa Tudella
• Grantee: Julia dos Santos Lima
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Motor development is a dynamic and continuous process in which there is gain and progression of motor skills, and it can be influenced by the experiences to which the infant is exposed. Experiencing the exploration of several postures, such as prone, is important, as it enables the exploration of the environment, helps in the development of motor skills, and in the acquisition of trunk control. The latter is essential for proper motor development, as it contributes to the infant's functionality by allowing him/her to have more participation. OBJECTIVE: To analyze whether there is a relationship between performance in prone posture and the acquisition of independent sitting posture in typical infants. METHODS: This is a longitudinal, blind study in which 52 healthy infants of both genders, born at term, aged three to six months, will participate. Assessments will be made at the infants' homes using the Infant Motor Profile (IMP) instrument to analyze the infant's motor behavior, the Segmental Assessment of Trunk Control (SATCo) to assess trunk control, and the Affordances in the Home Environment for Motor Development, Infant Scale (AHEMD-IS) to map the affordances available in the environment. Data analysis will be performed in SPSS 20.0 (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) program considering p<0.05. EXPECTED RESULTS: It is expected that infants stimulated in prone posture will show better trunk control, thus influencing performance in sitting posture.