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Brief reaching training with "sticky mittens" in preterm infants: Randomized controlled trial
Andressa Lagoa Nascimento1, Aline Martins Toledo2, Leila Foerster Merey1
1Physical Therapy Section, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil.
Insights
Sticky mittens training improved reaching behavior in preterm infants, enhancing bimanual reaches. This brief intervention showed lasting benefits for reaching skills but did not affect grasping.
Area of Science:
- Developmental pediatrics
- Motor development research
- Infant rehabilitation
Background:
- Preterm infants often exhibit developmental delays in motor skills.
- Reaching behavior is a crucial milestone in infant development.
- Early interventions can potentially mitigate motor deficits in preterm infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of a brief reaching training program using sticky mittens.
- To assess the impact of this training on reaching behavior in newly reaching preterm infants.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 24 preterm infants (5-month-old corrected age).
- Experimental group received a 4-minute training session with sticky mittens and toys.
- Control group received no training; all infants were assessed pre-training, post-training, and at retention.
Main Results:
- Trained infants showed significantly more total and bimanual reaches post-training compared to controls.
- The increase in bimanual reaches was sustained at the retention test.
- No significant differences were observed in distal adjustments or grasping between groups.
Conclusions:
- Brief training with sticky mittens effectively enhances reaching behavior and promotes sustained bimanual reaches in preterm infants.
- The intervention did not influence hand openness or early grasping abilities.
- This suggests a targeted approach for improving specific reaching components in this population.
Objective:
To examine whether a brief reaching training with sticky mittens was effective to improve reaching behavior in newly reaching preterm infants.
Methods:
In this randomized controlled trial, twenty four 5-month-old (±16-week-old corrected age) preterm infants were randomly allocated into experimental or control groups. Infants were assessed three times in a single session: pretraining (immediately before training), posttraining (immediately after training), and retention (4 min after the posttraining). During training, infants in the experimental group wore open fingers Velcro covered mittens. Training consisted of one 4-minute session of stimulated reaching using Velcro covered toys. Controls did not receive the training. During assessments, infants were placed in a baby chair and toys without Velcro were offered at their midline for 2 min. Number of total reaches, proximal adjustments and distal adjustments of reaching were primary outcomes. Grasping was a secondary outcome.
Results:
Groups were similar in the pretraining. In the posttraining, trained infants performed greater amount of total reaches and bimanual reaches than untrained infants. Greater amount of bimanual reaches in trained infants was maintained in the retention test. Distal adjustments and grasping outcome were not influenced by the training.
Conclusions:
A brief-term training with open fingers sticky mittens benefited reaching behavior and favored retention of increased bimanual reaches in newly reaching late preterm infants. However, it was not sufficient to influence hand openness and early grasping.
