Development Across the Lifespan

Catalog description

This 3-credit course presents the relationship of structure and function to the development of movement skills across the entire life span. Typical physical development and movement of an individual are described from the time of conception through old age with emphasis on children under five years and adults over sixty-five years. Learners review the impact of developing and aging body systems upon functional movement, and become familiar with functional motor skills pertinent to specific stages of life. Students also develop observational and analysis skills in regard to the development of typical functional skills across the life span. Given this foundation of typical functional and motor skills, learners begin to identify movement disorders. This course is taught from a life span perspective in which social, psychological, and physical factors all interact to impact function. In addition, the course presents movement utilizing concepts and principles from dynamic systems, such as control parameters, self-organization, constraints, and variability in movement.