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Physical functions and gait performance in school-aged children born late preterm
Yuji Ito1, Tadashi Ito2, Hideshi Sugiura3
1Department of Pediatrics, Aichi Prefecture Mikawa Aoitori Medical and Rehabilitation Center for Developmental Disabilities, 9-3 Koyaba, Koryuji-cho, Okazaki, Aichi 444-0002, Japan.
Early Human Development
|October 3, 2021
Summary
Children born late preterm (LP) exhibit poorer functional muscle strength and dynamic balance. Early focus on these physical functions is crucial for improving motor outcomes in late preterm children.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Pediatric Physical Therapy
- Motor Development
Background:
- Children born late preterm (LP) face increased risks for developmental motor deficits.
- Understanding long-term physical function in this population is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate physical functions and gait performance in school-aged children born late preterm (LP) compared to full-term (FT) born children.
- To identify specific motor outcomes associated with LP birth.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 277 children aged 6-10 years (22 LP, 255 FT).
- Assessment of physical functions including the five times sit-to-stand test (FTSST), one-leg standing time, and grip strength.
- Evaluation of gait performance, including quality, spatiotemporal parameters, and variability, with logistic regression for association analysis.
Main Results:
- Children born LP demonstrated significantly poorer performance on the FTSST compared to FT children (p=0.039).
- No significant differences were found in gait performance tests between the LP and FT groups.
- FTSST performance was significantly associated with LP birth (p=0.004, OR=1.579).
Conclusions:
- Late preterm birth is associated with decreased functional muscle strength and dynamic balance in school-aged children.
- Targeted interventions focusing on lower limb strength and dynamic balance are recommended for children born LP.
- Further research should explore long-term motor development trajectories in this cohort.
