Age differences in movement patterns used by children to rise from a supine position to erect stance.

From the time upright locomotor ability is acquired until the end of the human life span, standing up from the floor is a skill important to a person's physical independence. This study was designed 1) to determine whether within the rising task the movement patterns of different regions of the body vary with age and 2) to describe movements used by children to perform this task. One hundred twenty children, ages 4 through 7 years, were filmed while rising from a supine position. Movement patterns were classified using categorical descriptions of the action of three body regions: the upper extremities, lower extremities, and axial region. The incidence of each movement pattern was calculated and graphed with respect to age. Age differences were found in the incidence of movement patterns of each body region. A trend toward increased symmetry of movement with increasing age was noted. The oldest subjects, however, did not commonly use symmetric form in rising. Developmental change in movement patterns used in the rising task likely continues beyond early childhood.