- Develops cephalo-caudally (head down)

- Generally develops proximal to distal, but recent studies show control of hand develops concurrently with control of shoulder during reaching

- Normal sensory-motor development depends upon intact sensory systems (tactile, proprioceptive, visual, vestibular)

- Variability of movement

- Practice and repetition:  Necessary to develop motor skills in infants and adults who need to relearn motor skill

- Every movement involves a weight-shift

• Provides stimulus for righting and equilibrium responses
• Results in:  Elongation of WB side, shortening of contralateral side

- Extension important for stability

- Anti-gravity flexion important to balance extension

- Normal control of head and trunk implies the ability to extend in prone and flex in supine

- Extend in prone

- Flex in supine