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Exercise capacity and the psychosocial effect in preterm born infants - Should we do more?
H T Fitzgerald1, T Halvorsen2, M Engan3
1Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales 2145, Australia.
Insights
Promoting physical activity in preterm-born children enhances development and well-being. Interventions like exercise programs and family engagement can improve lung function and quality of life.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Exercise Physiology
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Physical activity is vital for children's holistic development and disease prevention.
- Extremely preterm birth often leads to reduced lung function and exercise capacity, worsened by inactivity.
- Optimizing physical activity can mitigate these challenges and improve long-term health outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore strategies for increasing physical activity in preterm-born children.
- To investigate the potential of interventions to improve cardiopulmonary function and quality of life.
- To highlight the importance of a holistic approach for preterm children's well-being.
Main Methods:
- Review of intervention strategies including supervised aerobic and resistance training.
- Analysis of incorporating physical activity into daily routines.
- Emphasis on family engagement and tailored program design.
Main Results:
- Intervention strategies show promise in increasing activity levels and exercise capacity.
- Optimizing physical activity can enhance cardiopulmonary function and social interactions.
- Tailored programs and family involvement are key to successful interventions.
Conclusions:
- A holistic approach addressing physical activity and psychosocial barriers is essential for preterm children.
- Increased physical activity can significantly improve health, well-being, and quality of life.
- Further research is needed for effective, long-term intervention programs for this vulnerable population.
Abstract:
Physical activity is crucial for children's physical, cognitive, and social development, reducing the risk of non-communicable diseases and improving overall well-being. A major legacy of extremely preterm delivery is respiratory limitation with reduced lung function and decreased exercise capacity which can be further exacerbated by inactivity and deconditioning. Strategies to increase incidental physical activities in early childhood and participation in sport and more formal exercise programmes in middle childhood have the potential to optimize cardiopulmonary function, improve quality of life, and foster social interactions in childhood and beyond, thereby providing benefits that extend far beyond the physical domain. Intervention strategies such as supervised aerobic and resistance training, and incorporation of physical activity into daily routines have shown promise in increasing activity levels and improving exercise capacity in this population. Engaging families and tailoring programs to individual needs are crucial for the success of these interventions. Overall, a holistic approach that promotes increased physical activity and addresses psychosocial barriers is essential for optimizing the health, well-being, and quality of life of preterm-born children. Further research and development of effective, long-term intervention programs are needed to support these vulnerable individuals throughout childhood and into adulthood.
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