Role of Environmental Enrichment on the  Motor Proficiency of Institutionalized and Non Institutionalized Children - An Experimental  Study

Sanjiv Kumar; Vinuta Deshpande; Roohina Sheikh

Sanjiv Kumar Professor & Head, Department of Neurology Physiotherapy, KAHER Institute of Physiotherapy, Belagavi, Karnataka, India
Vinuta Deshpande Associate Professor, Department of Pediatric Physiotherapy, KAHER Institute of Physiotherapy, Belagavi, Karnataka, India
Roohina Sheikh Student, Department of Pediatric Physiotherapy, KAHER Institute of Physiotherapy, Belagavi, Karnataka, India

Keywords: Institutionalized Children, Orphanages, non institutionalized Children, Schools, Motor Proficiency, BOT-2 MP, Environmental Enrichment, Tailor-made Intervention

Abstract

Introduction: Environmental influences play an important part for the development of motor skills in children.
Aim: The current study assessed the impact of environmental influences on motor proficiency among children in Institutionalized (IN) and Non Institutionalized (NI) residences.
Methods and Materials: This experimental study was carried out in orphanages and schools, among children of 4-8 years for a period of one year. There was total 32 children, and each group consisted of 16 children. Bruininks- Oseretsky Test (BOT-2) was used to asses Motor proficiency. Association among the groups was assessed using the independent t-test, with p<0.05 seen as statistically significant.
Results: Significant improvements were observed in various motor skills in both institutionalised and non-institutionalised groups following the intervention. Among institutionalized, (p= 0.008) Fine Motor Precision, (p=0.0001) Fine Motor Integration, (p=0.002) Manual dexterity, (p= 0.01) Upper limb coordination, (p=0.0001) Bilateral coordination, (p< 0.0001) Strength, (p< 0.0001) Total motor composite and Running
speed and (p< 0.0001) Agility were considered significant. For NI, Fine Motor Integration(p=0.0001), Manual dexterity (p=0.02), Upper limb coordination (p= 0.003), Bilateral coordination (p=0.003/0.001), Total motor composite (p< 0.001) and Balance (p= 0.03) were proved to be statistically significant. When pre and post intervention difference was compared between the groups, Balance (p= 0.03), Strength (p< 0.0001) and Total motor composite (p= 0.03) were found to be significant.
Conclusion: The present study observed that there was an evident difference in. the motor proficiency of IN and NI children and hence it is imperative that the care takers in the institutions contribute towards enriching the motor proficiency at a younger age.

How to cite this article:
Kumar S, Deshpande V, Sheikh R. Role of
Environmental Enrichment on the Motor
Proficiency of Institutionalized and Non
Institutionalized Children - An Experimental
Study. Chettinad Health City Med J.
2025;14(2):40-45.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/2278.2044.202522

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