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Center for Motor Behavior & Pediatric Disabilities

Current Research

Motor Activity & Locomotion in Infants with and without Down Syndrome

Principal Investigator: Rosa Angulo Barroso (rangulo@umich.edu)
Co-Investigator: Timothy R.B. Johnson, M.D.

Infants with Down syndrome (DS) show developmental delays in the locomotor domain compared to infants with typical development (TD). Early interventions may hasten the onset of prelocomotor abilities, and ultimately the onset of independent walking. However, these therapeutic programs must be designed an implemented based on scientific evidence. Therefore, the goal of this grant proposal is to generate scientific evidence to support specific leg movement training (kicking) during early development to enhance later locomotor function. To examine this question, it is necessary to accurately characterize the spontaneous motor activity of infants with and without Down syndrome between 3-9 months of age and identify relationships between frequency and quality of motor activity, major locomotor milestones, and treadmill stepping. This will be accomplished through the implementation of a longitudinal, ecologically valid, objective and comprehensive analysis of the frequency of trunk activity and the frequency and quality of leg activity. Treadmill stepping and locomotor milestones will be used as the primary outcomes.

All Current Research

Center for Motor Behavior & Pediatric Disabilities
401 Washtenaw Ave
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2214
(734)936-2607, Fax (734)936-1925
cmbpd@umich.edu

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Copyright © 1999 The Regents of the University of Michigan
Created September 1, 1999