Treadmill stepping in infants born prematurely

Abstract

Premature infants stepped on a treadmill as early as 1-month corrected age and they performed more coordinated alternate steps than their full-term peers. Twelve low-risk premature infants were observed at 1-, 6- and 9-months corrected-age. The infants were supported on a treadmill for five 20-s trials at three speeds. The following data were analysed from the video records: (1) Leg postures in treadmill-moving and non-moving trials, (2) various parameters of limb position and movement during each step cycle, and (3) multiple anthropometric measures. Premature infants at all ages performed coordinated alternating steps which responded to changes in speed. The premature infants had more extended leg postures during non-stepping analysis than they did once the swing was initiated. Low-risk premature birth did not interfere with the neuromotor pathway. Experience out-of-utero may have facilitated stepping.