title: Effects of infant crawling experience on range of motion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to show the effects of infant crawling experience on shoulder and hip range of motion and trunk flexibility.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and twenty children who had  attended the Child and Mothers Health Center in Kutahya City of Turkey between 2002 and 2003 were evaluated, and 40 children walking without assistance with normal motor development were divided into 2 groups, crawler group (CG) (N:20) and noncrawler group (NCG) (N:20). The CG children were selected to match with age of the NCG. Shoulder and hip range of motion and trunk flexibility were measured for assessment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No statistical differences were observed in all physical characteristics and range of movement (ROM) for girls and boys of each group (p>0.05). The CG girls were 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 found statistically higher in NCG than CG (p<0.05, p<0.01) except hip flexion (p>0.05) and no statistical differences were found between groups shoulder ROM values (p>0.05), except NCG left flexion (p<0.05). The highest hip abduction ROM was measured in NCG boys and highest external rotation was measured in NCG girls. No statistical differences were found in trunk flexion and sit and reach test in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Crawling is an important developmental exercise for infants to gain joint stabilization especially on the hip joint, and parents should facilitate their infant`s to crawl and maintain suitable environmental conditions.
authors.affiliation: Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Department, Health Institution of Higher School, Dumlupinar University, 43100 Kutahya, Turkey. Tel. +90 535 393 8164.  E-mail: alicimbiz@mail.dumlupinar.edu.tr.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cimbiz
authors.forename: Vahdettin
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bayazit