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Published on: January 16, 2019
Treadmill training for an infant born preterm with a grade III intraventricular hemorrhage
Amy W Bodkin1, Ronda S Baxter, Carolyn B Heriza
1University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and Center for Gait and Movement Analysis, Box A036/B476, Denver, CO 80262, USA. amy.bodkin@uchsc.edu
Insights
Treadmill training is feasible for infants at high risk for neuromotor dysfunction. This intervention may promote more mature infant stepping patterns, warranting further research.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric physical therapy
- Infant neuromotor development
Background:
- Treadmill training is established as beneficial for children with cerebral palsy and Down syndrome.
- This case report investigates treadmill training feasibility in a high-risk infant.
Observation:
- A male infant with grade III intraventricular hemorrhage underwent physical therapy and treadmill training starting at 5.25 months corrected age.
- Training occurred thrice weekly, with weekly videotaping for analysis of steps, step type, and foot position.
Findings:
- Infant treadmill stepping patterns, excluding foot position, mirrored those observed in infants without high-risk neuromotor disabilities.
- The infant demonstrated feasible treadmill training and potentially more mature stepping characteristics.
Implications:
- Treadmill training may be a viable intervention for high-risk infants to enhance neuromotor development.
- Further research is needed to optimize training parameters and assess long-term outcomes.
Background And Purpose:
Research has documented the feasibility and benefit of treadmill training in children with cerebral palsy and Down syndrome. The purposes of this case report are: (1) to determine the feasibility of treadmill training in an infant at high risk for neuromotor dysfunction and (2) to describe the child's treadmill stepping patterns following treadmill training.
Case Description:
The male infant, who had a grade III intraventricular hemorrhage following premature birth, began physical therapy and treadmill training at 51/4 months corrected age. Treadmill training was conducted 3 times weekly and videotaped weekly. Videotape analysis determined number of steps, step type, and foot position.
Outcomes:
Except for foot position, trends in treadmill stepping were similar to those of studies with infants not at high risk for neuromotor disabilities.
Discussion:
This case report shows that treadmill training is feasible for an infant at high risk for neuromotor disabilities and may be associated with more mature stepping characteristics. Future research should evaluate optimum treadmill training parameters and long-term developmental outcomes.
