Treadmill Training for an Infant Born Preterm With a Grade III Intraventricular Hemorrhage

Abstract

Background and Purpose. Research has documented the feasibility and benefit of treadmill training in children with cerebral palsy and Down syndrome. The purposes of this case report are: (1) to determine the feasibility of treadmill training in an infant at high risk for neuromotor dysfunction and (2) to describe the child's treadmill stepping patterns following treadmill training. Case Description. The male infant, who had a grade III intraventricular hemorrhage following premature birth, began physical therapy and treadmill training at 5¼ months corrected age. Treadmill training was conducted 3 times weekly and videotaped weekly. Videotape analysis determined number of steps, step type, and foot position. Outcomes. Except for foot position, trends in treadmill stepping were similar to those of studies with infants not at high risk for neuromotor disabilities. Discussion. This case report shows that treadmill training is feasible for an infant at high risk for neuromotor disabilities and may be associated with more mature stepping characteristics. Future research should evaluate optimum treadmill training parameters and long-term developmental outcomes.

Velocidade ideal da esteira para estimular passadas do andar em bebês

“…This system provided postural stability to the infant so that it remained in a standing position with feet touching the treadmill surface. The relief of body weight brought by this system was minimal and similar to that provided in previous studies, when infants were held around the trunk by a researcher 12,15,16,[18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28] . However, the intention was not to relieve the weight on the lower limbs.…”

Effect of optic flows on newborn crawling

“…Barbu‐Roth et al, ), but can be reactivated if infants are submerged waist‐deep into water to reduce the effects of gravity on leg movements (Thelen et al, ) or by placing older infants on a treadmill (Thelen, ). Moreover, regular daily treadmill training that starts after a few months of age can increase stepping quality and quantity in typically developing infants (Thelen & Ulrich, ; Vereijken & Thelen, ) and can hasten the onset of independent walking in infants with motor disabilities (Bodkin, Baxter, & Heriza, ; Teulier, Barbu‐Roth, & Anderson, ; Ulrich, Ulrich, Angulo‐Kinzler, & Yun, ). Together these findings suggest that newborn stepping is the appropriate starting point for studying the development of independent upright locomotion, though that starting point may be even earlier given that human fetuses as young as 13–14 weeks gestational age will produce alternating steps while somersaulting in the uterus (de Vries, Visser, & Prechtl, ).…”

Treadmill stimulation improves newborn stepping

“…The view that specific motor experience will strengthen existing motor patterns (Vereijken and Thelen, ) led to the successful application of treadmills in training paradigms for infants at risk of developing locomotor delays. Regular daily treadmill training, started at a few months of age, increased stepping ability in typically developing infants (Vereijken & Thelen, 1997) and brought forward the onset of independent walking in infants with motor deficiencies (Bodkin, Baxter, & Heriza, ; Ulrich, Ulrich, Angulo‐Kinzler, & Yun, ). In particular, treadmill trained infants with Down syndrome retained qualitative gait improvements after the onset of walking, especially in terms of step length (Wu, Looper, Ulrich, Ulrich, & Angulo‐Barroso, ).…”