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Published on: August 30, 2016
Assessing the Benefits of a Novel Postural Supporting Device on the Postural Development of Preterm Neonates in the
Dhwani D Chanpura1, Neha Mukkamala1, Nalina Gupta2
1Physiotherapy, Sumandeep Vidyapeeth Deemed to be University, Vadodara, IND.
Insights
A new postural support device improved motor development in preterm infants. This intervention, combined with physiotherapy, showed significant positive effects on infant posture in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Developmental pediatrics
- Rehabilitation medicine
Background:
- Neonatal intensive care advances improve preterm infant survival but often result in motor impairments.
- Therapeutic positioning is crucial for neurodevelopmental support in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).
- Existing methods may not fully address the complex postural needs of preterm neonates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility and effects of a novel postural support device on preterm infants' postural development.
- To assess the impact of the device in conjunction with standard neonatal physiotherapy.
- To determine if the device can enhance postural control and alignment in a NICU setting.
Main Methods:
- A feasibility study involving nine medically stable preterm infants without diagnosed conditions.
- Participants received daily neonatal physiotherapy and used the novel postural support device for one week.
- The Infant Positioning Assessment Tool was employed for pre- and post-intervention assessments.
Main Results:
- Statistically significant improvements were observed in all assessed postural components (head, neck, shoulders, hands, hips/pelvis, knees/ankles/feet).
- The p-value for the observed improvements was 0.026, indicating a significant positive effect.
- The novel device demonstrated a positive influence on postural development when used with physiotherapy.
Conclusions:
- The novel postural support device is a promising intervention for improving postural development in preterm neonates.
- Combining the device with physiotherapy offers a synergistic approach to neurodevelopmental care in the NICU.
- Further research is warranted to explore long-term outcomes and broader applications of this device.
Abstract:
Advances in neonatal intensive care have significantly increased the survival rates of preterm infants. However, many of these infants continue to face serious motor impairments, contributing to both short- and long-term morbidity. Therapeutic positioning is a key neurodevelopmental intervention in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), aimed at supporting posture and movement. This feasibility study evaluated the effects of a novel postural support device on the postural development of preterm neonates in the NICU. Nine medically stable preterm infants, with no diagnosed diseases or conditions, were included in the study. All participants received daily neonatal physiotherapy and were continuously positioned in the novel postural support device for one week. The Infant Positioning Assessment Tool was used to assess posture before and after the intervention. After one week, a statistically significant improvement was observed across all posture components - head, neck, shoulders, hands, hips/pelvis, and knees/ankles/feet - with a p-value of 0.026. These findings suggest that the novel postural support device, in combination with physiotherapy, positively influences the postural development of preterm neonates.
