Neuropediatrics 2006; 37 - TP20
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-945613

DEVELOPMENT OF EARLY POSTURAL CONTROL IN PRETERM AND FULLTERM INFANTS

ES Mewes Gaetan 1, MVL Moura-Ribeiro 1
  • 1Department of Physical Therapy, CCS, State University of Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the development of early postural control in preterm and fullterm infants during the first six months of age.

Methods: A longitudinal study was carried out with a group of 13 infants born with gestational age below 35 weeks (PT) and a group of 11 infants born with gestational age between 38 and 41 weeks (FT). The Chailey Levels of Ability assessment was used to evaluate the supine, prone, sitting and standing positions, observing the positions and movements of the body segments, the relationship among them, and the weight bearing. Evaluations took place at 15 days, 1st., 2nd., 3rd., 4th., 5th. and 6th. month of age; the gestational age of the preterm infant was corrected for 40 weeks.

Results: There is a significant difference (p<0.05) in prone position: in the PT group, between evaluations carried out at 15 days and 1st. month, 2nd. and 3rd. month, 3rd. and 4th. month, 4th. and 5th. month and 5th and 6th. month, and in the FT group, in the evaluations carried out between 15 days and the 1st. month, the 1st. and 2nd. month, the 2nd. and 3rd. month, the 3rd. and 4th. month, 4th. and the 5th. month and 5th. and 6th. month; sitting position: between the groups, indicating that the PT group showed, in average, inferior results to those for the FT group; standing position: between the two groups at the 4th. and 5th. month, and within the PT group, in the evaluations of the 3rd. and 4th month and the 5th and 6th month and the T group in the evaluations between the 3rd and 4th month.

Conclusion: The early postural control evolves sequentially in healthy infants born preterm and fullterm but slowlier in the former.