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Reduced calf muscle growth in NICU graduates compared with typically developing term infants: 12-month longitudinal

Sian A Williams1,2, Malcolm Battin3, Alana Cavadino4

  • 1Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia sian.williams@curtin.edu.au.

Archives of Disease in Childhood. Fetal and Neonatal Edition
|April 24, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) graduates show reduced triceps surae muscle growth compared to typically developing infants. This muscle growth difference, particularly in the soleus, impacts motor development in NICU graduates.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Medicine
  • Neonatology
  • Musculoskeletal Ultrasound

Background:

  • Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) graduates may experience altered physical development.
  • Understanding muscle growth in high-risk infants is crucial for early intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare triceps surae muscle growth in NICU graduates versus typically developing (TD) infants during the first year of life.
  • To assess the relationship between muscle growth and gross motor development.

Main Methods:

  • A longitudinal, prospective study involving 61 infants (37 NICU graduates, 24 TD).
  • Muscle volume measured using freehand 3D ultrasound at 3, 6, and 12 months corrected age.
  • Gross motor development assessed using the Peabody Developmental Motor Scale-2 (GMQ).

Main Results:

  • Triceps surae muscle growth trajectories significantly differed between groups (p<0.001).
  • NICU graduates exhibited smaller soleus and lateral gastrocnemius muscle volumes at 12 months compared to TD infants.
  • Gross Motor Quotient (GMQ) was lower in NICU graduates, and fewer walked by 12 months compared to TD infants.

Conclusions:

  • Reduced soleus muscle growth contributes to a smaller overall triceps surae muscle size in NICU graduates by 12 months.
  • Early muscle development deficits in NICU graduates are associated with delayed gross motor milestones.
Abstract

Keywords:
infant developmentintensive care units, neonatalneonatologypaediatrics

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