Parent-Administered PT for Preterm Infants

Parents improved motor performance in preterm infants with physical therapy focused on postural control, head control, and midline orientation.

Early physical therapy to improve motor function in preterm infants has had limited success. However, small studies have shown modest effectiveness when parents are included in the therapy.

Now, investigators have conducted a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial involving 153 infants (gestational age ≤32 weeks) who received either parent-administered physical therapy (74 infants) or usual care (79 controls). Parents performed therapeutic maneuvers on infants under the supervision of a physical therapist for 10 minutes twice daily from 34 through 36 weeks postmenstrual age. The therapy focused on postural control, head control, and midline orientation.

Motor performance assessed with standardized tests at 34 and 37 weeks showed that infan…

Reviewing Author

Martin T. Stein, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardPearson Neuroscience Advisory Board

Speaker’s bureauAmerican Academy of Pediatrics

RoyaltiesElsevier, Inc.

Editorial boardsJournal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics