Treadmill training in moderate risk preterm infants promotes stepping quality—Results of a small randomised controlled trial (original) (raw)
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Treadmill Training of Infants With Down Syndrome: Evidence-Based Developmental Outcomes
PEDIATRICS, 2001
Objective. On average, infants with Down syndrome (DS) learn to walk about 1 year later than nondisabled (ND) infants. The purpose of this study was to determine if practice stepping on a motorized treadmill could help reduce the delay in walking onset normally experienced by these infants. Methods. Thirty families of infants with DS were randomly assigned to the intervention or control group. All infants were karyotyped trisomy 21 and began participation in the study when they could sit alone for 30 seconds (Bayley Scales of Infant Development, Second Edition 1993, item 34). Infants received traditional physical therapy at least every other week. In addition, intervention infants received practice stepping on a small, motorized treadmill, 5 days per week, for 8 minutes a day, in their own homes. Parents were trained to support their infants on these specially engineered miniature treadmills. Every 2 weeks research staff went into the homes and tested infants' overall motor progress by administering the Bayley Scales of Infant Development, Second Edition, 1 monitored growth status via a battery of 11 anthropometric measures, and checked parents' compliance with physical therapy and treadmill intervention. The primary measures of the intervention's effectiveness were comparisons between the groups on the length of time elapsed between sitting for 30 seconds (entry into the study) and 1) raising self to stand; 2) walking with help; and 3) walking independently. Results. The experimental group learned to walk with help and to walk independently significantly faster (73.8 days and 101 days, respectively) than the control group, both of which also produced large effect size statistics for the group differences. The groups were not statistically different for rate of learning to raise self to stand but there was a moderate effect size statistic suggesting that the groups were meaningfully different in favor of the experimental group. Conclusions. These results provide evidence that, with training and support, parents can use these treadmills in their homes to help their infants with DS learn to walk earlier than they normally would. Current research is aimed at 1) improving the protocol to maximize outcome; 2) determining the impact of treadmill practice on walking gait patterns; 3) testing the application to other populations with a history of delays in walking; and 4) determining the long-term benefits that may accrue from this form of activity.
Collections Randomized Controlled Trials Outcomes Measurement Gait and Locomotion Training Down Syndrome Adaptive/Assistive Devices in the following collection(s): This article, along with others on similar topics, appears e-Letters "Responses" in the online version of this article. "Submit a response" in the right-hand menu under or click on here To submit an e-Letter on this article, click E-mail alerts to receive free e-mail alerts here Sign up by guest on February 12, 2014
Differences in walking attainment ages between low-risk preterm and healthy full-term infants
Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria, 2012
OBJECTIVE: To compare gross motor development of preterm infants (PT) without cerebral palsy with healthy full-term (FT) infants, according to Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS); to compare the age of walking between PT and FT; and whether the age of walking in PT is affected by neonatal variables. METHODS: Prospective study compared monthly 101 PT and 52 FT, from the first visit, until all AIMS items had been observed. Results: Mean scores were similarity in their progression, except from the eighth to tenth months. FT infants were faster in walking attainment than PT. Birth weight and length and duration of neonatal nursery stay were related to walking delay. CONCLUSION: Gross motor development between PT and FT were similar, except from the eighth to tenth months of age. PT walked later than FT infants and predictive variables were birth weight and length, and duration of neonatal intensive unit stay.
Physical activity in infants with Down syndrome receiving a treadmill intervention
Infant Behavior and Development, 2008
Despite the recognized relevance of physical activity in the development and health of children, assessment of physical activity levels (PA-level) in infancy is limited, especially in infants with Down syndrome (DS). Increasing PA-level using a treadmill training (TMT) intervention may benefit infants with motor delays. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a higher intensity, individualized TMT protocol (HI) would elicit immediate and short-term higher PA-level in infants with DS than a lower intensity, generalized training protocol (LG).
Jorjani Biomedicine Journal, 2021
Background and Objective: Human development is influenced by genetic, environmental, and social factors whose foundation is formed from infancy and childhood. Preterm birth and low birth weight are important issues that can affect the development and threaten the public health. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of early exercise interventions on gross motor skills of children with preterm birth aged 3 to 6 years. Material and Methods: In this Experimental study, 30 children with the average weight (2066 ±354g) were selected from the preterm infants (32 to 37 weeks less than 2500 g) admitted to NICU ward. They were divided into two groups (experimental group n=15 and control group n=15 children). To evaluate the gross motor skills of children, the second version of the Peabody developmental motor scale was used. The results were analyzed by SPSS using ANCOVA test (p≤0.05). Results: The results of this study showed that early interventions can have a positive effect on the gross motor skills of these children and the participants in the experimental group were able to obtain higher scores than the control group after participating in the training program. Conclusion: The results showed that training interventions have a significant effect on both stability and locomotion skills.
Journal of Caring Sciences, 2017
Although the survival rate of infants born preterm has increased, the prevalence of developmental problems and motor disorders among this population of infants remains the same. This study investigated the effect of physical activity programs in and out of water on motor performance and neuromuscular development of infants born preterm and had induced immobility by mechanical ventilation. Methods: This study was carried out in Al-Zahra hospital, Tabriz. 76 premature infants were randomly assigned into four groups. One group received daily passive range of motion to all extremities based on the Moyer-Mileur protocol. Hydrotherapy group received exercises for shoulders and pelvic area in water every other day. A combination group received physical activity programs in and out of water on alternating days. Infants in a containment group were held in a fetal position. Duration of study was two weeks 'from 32 through 33 weeks post menstrual age (PMA). Motor outcomes were measured by the Test of Infant Motor Performance. Neuromuscular developmental was assessed by New Ballard scale and leg recoil and Ankle dorsiflexion items from Dubowitz scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 13. Results: TIMP and neuromuscular scores improved in all groups. Motor performance did not differ between groups at 34 weeks PMA. Postural tone of leg recoil was significantly higher in physical activity groups post intervention. Conclusion: Physical activities and containment didn't have different effects on motor performance in infants born preterm. Leg recoil of neuromuscular development items was affected by physical activity programs.
Effectiveness of Treadmill Training in Children With Motor Impairments
Pediatric Physical Therapy, 2010
Purpose: To investigate Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS) performance in children developing typically. Methods: The PBS was administered to 643 children developing typically per parent report, aged 2 years 4 months to 13 years 7 months. Results: A 2-way analysis of variance and post hoc analyses identified significant age and gender differences in PBS performance. The Spearman rank correlation analysis identified associations between PBS scores and age, height, weight, and body mass index. Data were analyzed using 95% confidence intervals of the means to identify PBS typical performance ranges for each age and gender group. The lower bound of the 95% confidence intervals was used to identify outliers and determine a "critical cut score" for each group. The numbers and percentages of children scoring above and below this critical cut score were calculated to further describe the sample. Conclusions: This study provides the clinician with guidelines for interpretation of PBS performance.
Physical Activity in 6.5-Year-Old Children Born Extremely Preterm
2020
Physical activity (PA) can prevent cardiovascular diseases. Because of increased risks of impairments affecting motor activity, PA in children born preterm may differ from that in children born at term. In this prospective cohort study, we compared objectively measured PA in 71 children born extremely preterm (<27 weeks gestational age), to their 87 peers born at term, at 6.5 years of age. PA measured with accelerometer on the non-dominant wrist for 7 consecutive days was compared between index and control children and analyzed for associations to prenatal growth, major neonatal brain injury, bronchopulmonary dysplasia and neonatal septicemia, using ANOVA. Boys born extremely preterm spent on average 22 min less time per day in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) than control boys (95% CI: −8, −37). There was no difference in girls. Amongst children born extremely preterm, major neonatal brain injury was associated with 56 min less time in MVPA per day (95%CI: −88, −26)...
Stepping Responses of Infants With Myelomeningocele When Supported on a Motorized Treadmill
Physical Therapy, 2008
Background and Purpose. Infants with myelomeningocele (MMC) have difficulty with, and show delays in, acquiring functional skills, such as walking. This study examined whether infants with MMC will respond to treadmill practice by producing stepping patterns or at least motor activity during the first year after birth. This study also compared the stepping trajectories of infants with MMC across age with those of infants with typical development (TD) to analyze the characteristics of the development of stepping patterns in infants with MMC early in life.