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Development of postural adjustments during reaching in preterm infants
I B van der Fits1, E R Flikweert, E F Stremmelaar
1Department of Medical Physiology-Developmental Neurology, University of Groningen, The Netherlands.
Pediatric Research
|July 10, 1999
Summary
Preterm infants exhibit disorganized postural adjustments during reaching, potentially due to impaired learning. These motor control issues persist despite normal early neurological assessments.
Area of Science:
- Developmental neuroscience
- Motor control
- Pediatric neurology
Background:
- Preterm infants often display postural abnormalities impacting development.
- Pathophysiology of postural development in preterm infants is poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To longitudinally investigate postural adjustment development during reaching in preterm infants.
- To explore the relationship between postural control, neurological outcomes, and early brain imaging.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 12 preterm infants (4-18 months corrected age).
- Simultaneous recording of video and electromyograms (EMG) of multiple muscle groups during reaching tasks.
- Comparison with data from 10 full-term infants.
Main Results:
- Preterm infants demonstrated excessive and temporally disorganized postural activity during reaching.
- Postural adjustments were not modulated by movement velocity or initial position.
- No correlation found between postural dysfunction and early hyperextension, 18-month neurological outcome, or neonatal brain ultrasound findings.
Conclusions:
- Preterm infants struggle with modulating postural adjustments during reaching, suggesting impaired motor learning.
- Postural control deficits in preterm infants are complex and not fully explained by early neurological markers.