All issues > Volume 18(12); 1975

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1975;18(12):928-938. Published online December 31, 1975.

Studies on the Developmental Course of Motor Response for Head Control during the Newborn Period

Ho Sung Lee¹

¹Dept, of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Seoul National University

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to study the developmental course of motor response: for head control during the first few days of life. The motor response for head control was evaluated when they are pulled to the sitting position, when they are placed in the prone: position, and they are heldin ventral suspension. Also, the developmental course of motor response for head control of the newborn infant who placed in the supine position and who placed in the prone position was compared. The sample consisted of 189 full term infants and of these infants, 100 were supine position group and 89 were prone position group. The examinations were carried out during the first 7 days. Each examination was evaluated by a simple method of grading the data were analysed statistically. The results are as follows: 1)There was a significant increase in the scores during the first 4~5 days in all groups.*A marked developmental course of the motor response for head control could thus be demonst rated during the newborn period. 2)After first 5 days, more than 70% of the infants were in score 3 or more and shewed active motor response for head control or could maintain the head in the upright position for more than 2 or 3 seconds. 3)The developmental courses of head movement in traction to sitting position, prone position and ventral suspenson were very similar each other. 4)There were no significant difference between the supine position group and the prone position group.

Keywords :