TY - JOUR
T1 - Early Treadmill Practice in Infants Born with Myelomeningocele
T2 - A Pilot Study
AU - Lee, Do Kyeong
AU - Sansom, Jennifer K.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy of the American Physical Therapy Association.
PY - 2019/1/1
Y1 - 2019/1/1
N2 - Purpose: To determine the feasibility of an early treadmill training program for infants with myelomeningocele (MMC) and to measure changes in overt infant motor development and control, including mechanisms underlying the overt changes. Methods: Ten infants with MMC were initially enrolled: 8 infants completed 12 consecutive months of training, and 2 completed 6 months of training. Training consisted primarily of home-based, parent-administered treadmill stepping practice 5 days per week, 10 minutes per day starting within 6 months postbirth. We measured motor milestones, treadmill steps, spinal-level reflexes, and body composition. Results: Infants showed earlier acquisition of gross motor skills than previously reported. The number of alternating steps performed increased, indicating more complex neuromotor control and strength. Integrity of monosynaptic pathways and body composition were improved after controlling for chronological age. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the feasibility of using early, home-based treadmill training for infants with MMC starting within 6 months postbirth.
AB - Purpose: To determine the feasibility of an early treadmill training program for infants with myelomeningocele (MMC) and to measure changes in overt infant motor development and control, including mechanisms underlying the overt changes. Methods: Ten infants with MMC were initially enrolled: 8 infants completed 12 consecutive months of training, and 2 completed 6 months of training. Training consisted primarily of home-based, parent-administered treadmill stepping practice 5 days per week, 10 minutes per day starting within 6 months postbirth. We measured motor milestones, treadmill steps, spinal-level reflexes, and body composition. Results: Infants showed earlier acquisition of gross motor skills than previously reported. The number of alternating steps performed increased, indicating more complex neuromotor control and strength. Integrity of monosynaptic pathways and body composition were improved after controlling for chronological age. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the feasibility of using early, home-based treadmill training for infants with MMC starting within 6 months postbirth.
KW - early intervention
KW - myelomeningocele
KW - treadmill stepping practice
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85058725382&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/PEP.0000000000000554
DO - 10.1097/PEP.0000000000000554
M3 - Article
C2 - 30507852
AN - SCOPUS:85058725382
SN - 0898-5669
VL - 31
SP - 68
EP - 75
JO - Pediatric Physical Therapy
JF - Pediatric Physical Therapy
IS - 1
ER -