Prone-on-elbows posture. (6-9months)
- The child appears to be bearing his body weight on his elbows and forearms.
- The child’s elbows are flexed to about 90 degrees, and they are directly under the head of the humerus.
Prone-on-hands posture.
- The child is bearing weight on his hands.
- The child’s hands are directly under the head of the humerus, his elbows are extended fully, and his entire chest is lifted off the floor.
- Typical children shows
- Sufficient postural stability
- Arms and legs outstretched
- Experiments with more movement of trunk in prone
- Begins to assume quadriped position
- Tries to move self on floor
- Atypical children –
- Preference for supine over prone
- Inability to roll
- Inability to sit
- Lack of motivation to move
- Compensations to accomplish age appropriate task
- Treatment
Walking on hands off lap or foam roller
- This exercise will teach your baby how to move their arms forward which will prepare them for forward motion as they learn to crawl
- This exercise also strengthens the shoulder girdle and trunk
Four point positioning-
You may use a foam roll or your leg to keep your baby in a four point position
- When you get her/him into this position, you can rock her front to back
- Only do what she tolerates.