Development of walking in preterm infants

NewsBot · Jun 3, 2007

Members do not see these Ads. Sign Up.
Development of walking in preterm and term infants: Age of onset, qualitative features and sensitivity to resonance
Suh-Fang Jengab, Tin-Wai Lauc, Wu-Shiun Hsiehd, Hong-Ji Luoa, Pei-Shan Chenb, Kwan-Hua Lina, Jeng-Yi Shiehb
Gait and Posture

An increasing number of studies have examined the development of walking in preterm infants; however, the results concerning those who had no major neonatal disease were inconclusive. This study was therefore aimed to examine the age of onset, the quality of early walking movement, and the sensitivity to resonant period of the force-driven harmonic oscillator (FDHO) model in preterm infants who had no major neonatal disease and normal term infants. Twenty-nine preterm infants and 29 term infants were prospectively examined for their age of onset of independent walking and were subsequently assessed the qualitative features of walking at 18 months of corrected age using kinematic analysis. Kinematic variables examined included spatio-temporal organization, inter-joint coordination, and inter-limb coordination. The anthropometric data were used to calculate the resonant period. The results demonstrated that the preterm infants attained independent walking at significantly older ages than the term infants when corrected for prematurity. The preterm infants manifested similar walking characteristics, except for shorter stride lengths, at 18 months of corrected age compared with the term infants. Furthermore, the stride periods of both groups were accurately predicted by the resonant period of the FDHO model. We conclude that preterm birth without accompanied major neonatal disease may affect infants’ age of onset and spatial organization but not their sensitivity to resonance during the early stage of walking development.
Click to expand...

Bug · Jun 4, 2007

Given the last 4-6 weeks of in uterine development the babe's proprioceptors are being formed and tested out, this makes sense.

When we see these premmies toe walking, spinning, bumping into things, making contact with every surface they can, we can only conclude that they missed out on this important moment in development.

There is also a a train of thought that the stride change/ground contact time is due to the child not wanting to fully contact the surface of the ground due to the number of heel pricks that they have had when in NICU. They have been exposed to so much pain at such a young age, this is remembered and subconsciously they do not want to put their feet to the ground. A few physio's I have worked with over the years subscribe to this thought process and we have used various cushioning within shoes and even opsite with some kids to assist in encouraging these kids to make ground contact.

This is one of those area's that I think the OT's/physio excel at explaining and working with this babes at an early age is integral. We have so much more to learn.

One Foot In The Grave · Jul 9, 2007

There is also a a train of thought that the stride change/ground contact time is due to the child not wanting to fully contact the surface of the ground due to the number of heel pricks that they have had when in NICU. They have been exposed to so much pain at such a young age, this is remembered and subconsciously they do not want to put their feet to the ground. A few physio's I have worked with over the years subscribe to this thought process and we have used various cushioning within shoes and even opsite with some kids to assist in encouraging these kids to make ground contact.
Click to expand...

Wow, that's a really interesting concept. It's amazing the memory that is retained in our "cells" from our earliest days.
Must do some more reading on that.

Craig Payne · Nov 30, 2007

The pre-term Arena'ettes were both up and walking well before their first birthday:

NewsBot · Jan 20, 2016

Temporal-spatial gait parameters and neurodevelopment in very-low-birth-weight preterm toddlers at 18-22 months
Katelyn Cahill-Rowley, Jessica Rose
Gait and Posture; in press

Highlights
•Toddler gait did not vary with walking experience after the first 2 months.
•Gait was similar for preterm and TD toddlers, except for increased step width.
•Gait differed in preterm toddlers with lower BSID-III scores versus TD toddlers.
•Preterm toddlers’ gait correlated with prematurity and BSID-III motor scores.
Click to expand...

Children born preterm with very-low birth-weight (VLBW) have increased risk of motor impairment. Early identification of impairment guides treatment to improve long-term function. Temporal-spatial gait parameters are an easily-recorded assessment of gross motor function. The objective of this study was to characterize preterm toddlers’ gait and its relationship with neurodevelopment. Velocity, cycle time, step width, step length and time asymmetry, %stance, %single-limb support, and %double-limb support were calculated for 81 VLBW preterm and 43 typically-developing (TD) toddlers. Neurodevelopment was assessed with Bayley Scales of Infant Development-3rd Edition (BSID-III) motor composite and gross motor scores. Mean step width (p=.009) was wider in preterm compared to TD toddlers. Preterm toddlers with <85 BSID-III motor composite scores, indicating mild-to-moderate delay, had significantly increased step width, step length asymmetry, and step time compared to TD toddlers. Step time was also significantly longer for lower-scoring compared to higher-scoring (≥85 BSID-III motor composite scores) preterm toddlers, suggesting that step time may be particularly sensitive to gradations of motor performance. Velocity, cycle time, step length asymmetry, %stance, step length, and step time significantly correlated with BSID-III gross motor scores, suggesting that these parameters may be revealing of gross motor function. The differences in gait between lower-scoring preterm toddlers and TD toddlers, together with the correlations between gait and BSID-III motor scores, suggest that temporal-spatial gait parameters may be useful in building a clinically-relevant, easily-conducted assessment of toddler gross motor development.
Click to expand...

NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

Bug Well-Known Member

One Foot In The Grave Active Member

Craig Payne Moderator

NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

The effect of persistent toe walking on the skeletal development of the pediatric foot

Continuing professional development opportunities for endorsed for scheduled medicines podiatrists

Development of the Talus

Abnormal Ontogenetic Development of the Calcaneus resulting in the PreClinical Clubfoot Deformity

Looking for professional development on motivational interviewing

A smart jumpsuit provides information on infants' movement and development

Influence of Shoe Characteristics on the Development of Valgus Foot in Children

Share This Page