Motivation to Move in Toddlers With Cerebral Palsy

PURPOSE: The relation between motivation to move (MTM) and motor development has been explored in typically developing children, but not those with disabilities. METHODS: We conducted a secondary analysis of data from 37 toddlers with cerebral palsy (age: 11.0-33.4 months, Gross Motor Function Classification System I-IV) enrolled in a clinical trial. We measured MTM's stability over time and its relations to gross motor function, cognition, sex, and age. RESULTS: At baseline, greater MTM was related to higher gross motor function and cognition. Despite improvements in motor function over the trial period, MTM remained stable. Initial MTM and cognition, but not sex, were significant predictors of later motor function. CONCLUSIONS: We hypothesize that MTM is learned from successful movement experiences at very young ages. Understanding the evolution of MTM in children with cerebral palsy may be useful to develop strategies to facilitate motivation and optimize motor development. Further study in other age groups and populations is needed.