Babies with typical development act asymmetrically in the activity of the lower limbs during the standing phase, contrary to the conventional view that claims symmetry, according to a new study conducted at the University of Haifa
Babies with typical development act asymmetrically in the activity of the lower limbs during the standing phase, contrary to the conventional view that claims symmetry, according to a new study conducted at the university. "It is very important to know the phenomenon from the clinical aspect, since clinicians treat symmetries as the normal condition and leg preference as a problem that requires treatment," said Dr. Esnat Atun-Eini from the Department of Physiotherapy at the University of Haifa, who conducted the study under the guidance of Professor Anat Sher, head of the Department of Education and Human Development at the university.
The phenomenon of side preference fascinates many researchers from different fields, as one of the prominent behavioral manifestations of cerebral laterality. In the past, it was assumed that the baby's brain is symmetrical in structure and function up to two years of age, and that functional asymmetries develop at a later stage. Therefore, leg preference was studied from 3 years of age onwards. In the current study, the researchers documented for the first time evidence of early development of leg preference in infants during the crawling and standing phase as part of a normal development process. In the study, the researchers focused on the stage at which babies begin to stand with support from a half-kneeling position or an asymmetrical six-legged position. Twenty-seven healthy babies with normal development between the ages of 7 months and 78 year participated in it. The results of the study show that in XNUMX% of the babies, a clear leg preference was identified when performing the positions performed from a half-kneeling position and when using the six asymmetric positions. In addition, a group of babies who exclusively preferred to stand with the same leg as the leading leg in all positions was documented, and this during several months after acquiring the separation stance. The researcher pointed out that the preferred leg at this age will not necessarily be the dominant leg at a later age. According to Dr. Atun-Aini, the main meaning of the findings is that the functional asymmetry in which there is a division of roles between the side that stabilizes and the side that leads the movement in the function of the lower limbs is an expression of - the anatomical and cerebral symmetries, so you should not try to influence or interfere with this. "Clinicians who are not aware of the existence of the phenomenon in the population with typical development, may recommend various intervention actions to promote symmetry in the function of the legs in the positions - that is, to make the other leg also function to the same extent. The better we know about this process in the normal population, we will be able to develop clinical applications also in populations with atypical development and distinguish between leg preference and abnormal asymmetry" concluded Dr. Atun-Aini.
