In long sitting, which PER is delayed and which PERs are absent?

• A. Lateral; Forward and Backward
• B. Forward; Lateral and Backward
• C. Backward; Forward and Lateral
• D. Forward; Lateral and Forward

Answer: (B)

In long sitting, protective extension responses are automatic postural reactions to loss of balance, testing how the body reacts to perturbations in three directions: forward, lateral, and backward. As a child matures, these responses should appear in a specific sequence and be present within expected age ranges. When one of these reactions is delayed, it means it appears later than normal; when a reaction is absent, it fails to appear at all.

The scenario describes a forward protective extension that is delayed, while the lateral and backward protective extensions are absent. This pattern indicates that the forward response isn’t coming in on time, but more notably, the child shows no protective reactions when perturbed to the sides or rear. In terms of clinical interpretation, this points to a broader impairment in protective postural responses, with forward movement showing a lag and lateral/backward responses not being present at all. This combination explains why the described option is the best match.