Effects of infant crawling experience on range of motion

Objective: The purpose of this study was to show theeffects of infant crawling experience on shoulder and hiprange of motion and trunk flexibility.Methods: One hundred and twenty children who hadattended the Child and Mothers Health Center in KutahyaCity of Turkey between 2002 and 2003 were evaluated,and 40 children walking without assistance with normalmotor development were divided into 2 groups, crawlergroup (CG) (N:20) and noncrawler group (NCG) (N:20).The CG children were selected to match with age of theNCG. Shoulder and hip range of motion and trunkflexibility were measured for assessment.Results: No statistical differences were observed in allphysical characteristics and range of movement (ROM)for girls and boys of each group (p 0.05). The CG girlswere statistically found heavier and taller than NCG(p 0.05). The CG were found to start to walk later(p 0.05) and used walker devices less often (p 0.01)than the NCG. All hip ROM values were foundstatistically higher in NCG than CG (p 0.05, p 0.01)except hip flexion (p 0.05) and no statistical differenceswere found between groups shoulder ROM values(p 0.05), except NCG left flexion (p 0.05). The highesthip abduction ROM was measured in NCG boys andhighest external rotation was measured in NCG girls. Nostatistical differences were found in trunk flexion and sitand reach test in both groups.Conclusions: Crawling is an important developmentalexercise for infants to gain joint stabilization especiallyon the hip joint, and parents should facilitate theirinfant’s to crawl and maintain suitable environmentalconditions.