Balance in children born prematurely currently aged 6–7

Abstract

SummaryStudy aim: Premature birth is one of the major problems of obstetrics, leading to numerous complications that are associated with prematurity, for instance balance disorders. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of premature birth on the ability to maintain balance in children commencing their school education. Material and methods:The study included children aged 6-7 years. The study group consisted of 59 children (31 girls and 28 boys, mean age 6.38 ± SD 0.73) born prematurely between 24 and 35 weeks of gestation. The control group consisted of 61 children (28 girls and 33 boys, mean age 6.42 ± 0.58) born at term. The research utilized standardized test tools -one-leg openeyed and closed-eyed standing test, one-leg jumping test -and an original questionnaire survey. Results: The children born at term achieved better results in the majority of tests. The comparison of girls and boys born prematurely and at term showed no statistically significant difference between them in terms of dynamic balance, static balance or total balance control. The comparison of the tests performed on the right and left lower limb in prematurely born children showed no statistically significant differences. Conclusion: Premature birth affects the ability to maintain body balance. The results of the study indicate the need to develop coordination skills that shape body balance in prematurely born children.

The influence between gestational age and postural control, a systematic review

“…On the other hand, balance was evaluated in seven studies ( 23 – 28 , 30 , 31 ), the children included in these studies had ages from three years. Dziuba et al ( 24 ) and Silva et al ( 26 ) did not find significant differences, and Rodríguez et al ( 25 ) did not find significant results for stabilometry except for the closed-eyes condition and over a viscoelastic foam surface (which were worse for the preterm group), but they did find significant differences for MABC-2. The study by Bucci et al ( 23 ), which considered the surface and the average speed of the centre of pressure (CoP), obtained worse result for the preterm infants group; whereas Petersen et al ( 27 ) showed by means of posturography worse results in the active and reactive postural stability of the preterm group with open and closed eyes in an anteroposterior direction and with open eyes in a lateral direction.…”

“…All the studies included underage participants, who were classified according to gestational age, regardless of birth weight and sex. Out of the 16 studies, eight provided the average gestational age per group ( 19 – 21 , 23 , 28 , 29 , 31 , 32 ); seven provided the intervals of gestational age which corresponded to each group ( 18 , 22 , 24 – 27 , 30 ), and one provided the data about the average gestational age of the preterm group, even though it did not provide data referring to the control group ( 33 ). The birth weight and sex of both groups was specified in 10 studies.…”

“…All the studies specified the intervention age, except for one ( 33 ), which only made reference to the age of the preterm group. Considering the last condition, it may be observed that seven studies were carried out during the first year of life of the participants ( 18 – 22 , 29 , 32 , 33 ), six were carried out from 3 to 10 years old ( 23 , 24 , 26 , 30 , 31 ), two were developed at the age of 13–17 years old ( 25 , 27 , 28 ) and one was carried out during the first year of life of the preterm infants group, but here the age of the control group was not specified ( 33 ). Out of the 16 studies included, six followed the evolution of the participants during a determined period of time; four were of a prospective nature ( 18 , 20 – 22 ), and two of a retrospective nature ( 32 , 33 ); the rest were cross-sectional studies.…”

“…Additionally, two studies carried out the evaluation of SATCo exclusively ( 21 , 22 ). As for the evaluation tools, the Motor Development Scale-Francisco Rosa Nieto (MDS) ( 26 ), Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-second edition (BOT-2) ( 30 ), the one-leg jumping test, the one-led-open-eyed test, and the closed-eyed standing test ( 24 ) were also used.…”

Effects of a 6-month balance intervention on postural control of preschoolers born with biological risk factors

“…Preterm children are more likely to have learning disabilities and poor school performance [65]. Premature birth affects the ability to maintain body balance [21]. Parental involvement is essential in the preventive treatment of a child's sensomotoric, social-emotional and cognitive-linguistic development [74].…”