Step-Initiation Deficits in Children with Faulty Posture Diagnosed with Neurodevelopmental Disorders during Infancy

BACKGROUND: Early detection of movement deficits during step initiation will facilitate the selection of the optimal physiotherapy management strategy. The main aim of the study was to assess potential differences in step initiation between 5- and 6-year-old children with faulty posture who had been diagnosed with neurodevelopmental disorders during infancy and healthy children. METHODS: The experimental group consisted of 19 children aged 5–6 years with faulty posture, who had been diagnosed with neurodevelopmental disorders during infancy and were given physiotherapy in the first year of their lives. The control group comprised 19 nursery school children aged 5–6 years with no postural defects, no history of postural control or movement deficits, and no physiotherapy interventions in the first year of their lives. Step initiation was performed on force platforms under various conditions, i.e., with and without an obstacle, stepping up onto a platform placed at a higher level, stepping down onto a platform placed on a lower level. The recording of center of foot pressure (COP) displacements was divided into three phases: phase 1 (P1)—quiet standing before step initiation, phase 2 (P2)—transit, phase 3 (P3)—quiet standing until measurement completion. RESULTS: The Tukey post hoc test showed that the means of sway range (raCOP) and mean velocity (vCOP) in sagittal ((AP)) plane for phase 1 and vCOP in frontal ((ML)) plane for phase 3 registered in the step-up trial were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in children with faulty posture compared to children with typical development. P1vCOP(ML), P3vCOP(AP), P3raCOP(ML), and P3vCOP(ML)of the step-down trial were also significantly higher in children with faulty posture (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Inclusion of functional movement exercises (stair-walking tasks) in physiotherapy interventions for children with postural defects seems well justified. The trial was registered in the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (no. ACTRN12617001068358).