Locomotor Function Assessment Protocol

Locomotor function assessments will be completed for infants who progress to Phase 2 (the intervention phase) at six time points (Months 5, 7, 9, 12, 15 and 18). The primary outcome measure for Aim 1 is the Movement Observation Coding System (MOCS), a task-specific measure of locomotor performance. The MOCS uses video coding to assess postural control, arm and leg movements, and goal directed movement. The scale has 27 items with 5 items to assess position of head, trunk, hands and legs in prone and 22 items that assess the effect of the child's arm and leg movements on movement of the SIPPC and prone locomotion. The scale has been validated with infants with various disabilities (49 ). The primary outcome for Aim 2 is the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM), a measure of real-world locomotor capacity (50 (link)). Subscore dimension C (crawling and kneeling) will be used to determine change in prone locomotor function after prone training, and subscore dimension E (walking, running, jumping) will be used to determine change in upright locomotor function after upright training. See Table 1 for a summary of predictor, moderator and locomotor skill measures.