| Abstrakt: |
Postural control, which is important for the development of allmovement, balance, and locomotion, depends a great deal on thevestibulospinal component of vestibular function in early childhood.Vestibulospinal input is important for muscle power regulation, which,in turn, influences postural control. The aim of this study was to focusparticularly on this component of vestibular function during the firstyear of life in 67 infants with a very short gestational age (25-27weeks), to search for possible neonatal confounders, and to see whetherit influences the course of muscle power development in preterm infants.Outcome was described as being optimal, suspect, or abnormal. Theinfants were categorized into the Neonatal Medical Index according tothe severity of neonatal illness and separately into three groups forneonatal brain ultrasonography findings (normal to severeabnormalities). At the age of 3 months, 20 infants performed optimallyon all items testing vestibular function, increasing to 40 at 6 monthsand 48 at 12 months. This significant improvement (also seen in musclepower regulation) was primarily caused by better head control (duringthe traction response and prone position), whereas less shoulderretraction and hyperextension were found in the sitting position.Vestibular function was significantly related to brain ultrasonographyclassification but not to gestational age, birthweight, the NeonatalMedical Index, or gender. (J Child Neurol 2004;19:614-618). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
