Infants born preterm have impaired abilities to interact with objects even in the first months of life. This impairment likely limits the knowledge they acquire about objects and about how they can act on them; this limited knowledge may, in turn, impair their early learning abilities. These results highlight the need for assessment and intervention tools specific for object exploration in young infants.
Purpose
To determine whether a novel exoskeletal device (Pediatric Wilmington Robotic Exoskeleton, P-WREX) is feasible and effective for intervention to improve reaching and object interaction for an infant with arm movement impairments.
Methods
An 8-month old with arthrogryposis was followed every two weeks during a 1-month baseline, 3-month intervention, and 1-month post-intervention. At each visit, reaching and looking behaviors were assessed.
Results
Within sessions, the infant spent more time contacting objects across a larger space, contacting objects with both hands, and looking at objects when wearing the P-WREX. Throughout intervention, the infant increased time contacting objects both with and without the device and increased bilateral active shoulder flexion.
Conclusions
1) It may be feasible for families to use exoskeletons for daily intervention, 2) Exoskeletons facilitate immediate improvements in function for infants with impaired upper extremity mobility, and 3) Interventions using exoskeletons can improve independent upper extremity function across time.
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