Motor performance after bottom-shuffling in early childhood

Objective. A group of school-age children who were formerly idiopathic bottom-shufflers were investigated to look at their motor skills and the possible influence of physiotherapy in early infancy on later motor performance. Methods. In a cross-sectional study, 20 subjects aged between four and eight years and who had been idiopathic bottom shufflers, were tested with the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (M-ABC). Results. No statistically significant differences were found in the scores of children who shuffled in their first two years of life compared to the reference group of the M-ABC. In addition, no statistically significant differences were found between children who received physiotherapy and those who did not. Conclusion. Children who shuffled in sitting position in early infancy showed normal motor performance in childhood, whether they received physiotherapy or not.