Cerebral palsy: studying baby steps could lead to better treatments

Understanding the progression from the stepping reflex to independent walking could help find new therapies for children with cerebral palsy (CP) – a movement disability caused by brain damage before, during or shortly after birth.A baby’s first steps are a magical moment – an early stepping stone towards independent walking. Children usually begin to walk around the time of their first birthday as they move from being an infant to become busy, curious and mobile toddlers.Controlling leg muscles and achieving balance take time, but new-born babies already have an instinctive ‘stepping reflex’ hardwired into their neural circuitry.