Introduction

Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita (AMC) is not considered as a separate disease entity, but rather a descriptive diagnosis that is used to label more than three hundred individual conditions of various aetiologies. A therapy for a child with arthrogryposis is a challenging and lengthy process aiming at achieving maximum functional capacity. A crucial component of physiotherapy is setting realistic therapeutic goals and working with the child's parents or carers to ensure continued improvement. Analysis of the psychomotor development of a child with arthrogryposis in the 1st year of life in the context of standards for normal psychomotor development, as well as a review of the literature on arthrogryposis and the psychomotor development in the 1st year of life.

Material and methods

The study investigated the case of a girl with arthrogryposis affecting the joints of the upper and lower limbs. The case study method was used, with the following techniques: interview (with the child's mother), analysis of medical records and photographic documentation, and scale and test techniques (based on a point evaluation of the child's spontaneous activity using the "Functional Assessment Scale for Preschool Patients". Assessments were carried out monthly for the first year of the girl's life.

Results

Based on the conducted observation and scoring of the child's spontaneous activity carried out with the "Functional Assessment Scale for Preschool Patients", the studied girl with arthrogryposis in the first 12 months of her life showed mainly a moderate level of activity in the area of fine motor skills (dexterity), while in the area of self-service she had a moderate and high level of activity, which is a favourable prognostic factor for her quality of life.

Conclusions

The examined child with arthrogryposis shows a delay in psychomotor development during the first 12 months of life. The child has not reached all the developmental milestones predicted for the 1st year of life. In order to support psychomotor development, it is essential to implement early, comprehensive, and multidisciplinary rehabilitation and to use appropriately selected orthopaedic supplies.