Motor exploration in the child.

Exploración Motriz en el Niño

Motor exploration in children requires an adaptive approach according to maturational age and encompasses several fundamental pillars:

• Inspection and Posture: Observe the symmetry of movements, spontaneous posture (frog posture vs. rigid extension) and presence of deformities.
• Muscle tone: Assess passive tone (consistency, extensibility, and resistance to passive movement) and active tone (righting and pulling reactions).
• Muscle Stretch Reflexes: Grade the patellar, bicipital and Achilles reflexes to look for asymmetries or signs of pyramidalism (hyperreflexia, clonus).
• Segmental Strength and Gait: Assess spontaneous walking, ability to jump, climb stairs, and Gowers sign (pelvic girdle weakness).