In infants with poor anti-gravity strength, prone positioning is accommodated to provide what benefit?

• A. Support anti-gravity alignment and strengthen extensors
• B. Increase anterior trunk flexion
• C. Reduce back extensor use
• D. Promote rapid standing

Answer: (A)

Prone positioning helps infants build control against gravity by encouraging the neck and trunk extensors to work to keep the head, spine, and pelvis aligned in a neutral, upright-feeling posture. When lying on the stomach, the infant must activate the back and neck muscles to lift and stabilize the head and maintain midline alignment, which strengthens these extensors and supports anti-gravity control. This foundational strengthening aids later motor development, such as sitting and standing, by providing a more stable extension-based posture. Increasing anterior trunk flexion would go with gravity rather than oppose it, while reducing back extensor use undermines the goal of building anti-gravity strength; rapid standing is not an immediate result of this posture.