Proximal and Distal Adjustments of Reaching Behavior in Preterm Infants

Abstract

The authors aimed to investigate proximal and distal adjustments of reaching behavior and grasping in 5-, 6-, and 7-month-old preterm infants. Nine low-risk preterm and 10 full-term infants participated. Both groups showed the predominance of unimanual reaching, an age-related increase in the frequency of vertical-oriented and open hand movement, and also an increase in successful grasping from 6 to 7 months. The frequency of open hand was higher in the preterm group at 6 months. Intrinsic restrictions imposed by prematurity did not seem to have impaired reaching performance of preterm infants throughout the months of age.

Immediate Effect of Training at the Onset of Reaching in Preterm Infants: Randomized Clinical Trial

“…Based on the assumption that the development of manual skills in term infants may be modified by spontaneous (Carvalho, Gonçalves, & Tudella, 2008;Toledo, Soares, & Tudella, 2011) and induced practice (training; Cunha, Woollacott, & Tudella, 2013), it was hypothesized that sensorimotor stimulation provided by specific, short-duration serial varied practice training may facilitate the reaching skill in the period of acquisition, in preterm infants, increasing the frequency of reaching behavior, and raising the quality of the movement so that it more closely resembles the reaching skill observed in term infants. Thus, we hope that this study may provide theoretical support for a better understanding of the effect on preterm infant reaching of specific short-duration training, encouraging professionals involved in neuropediatric habilitation and rehabilitation to offer preventive measures and strategies for early intervention in reaching disorders in preterm infants.…”

Additional Weight Influences the Reaching Behavior of Low-Risk Preterm Infants

“…Grasping was classified into (a) successful-when the infant was able to grasp the object with one or both hands; and (b) unsuccessful-when the infant touched the object, but did not grasp it (Fagard, 2000;Toledo et al, 2011) …”

“…After measurement of the upper limbs, the infants were placed in a baby chair with back support reclined 50 • from the horizontal plane (Toledo et al, 2011;Von Hofsten, 1984). The back support had enough height to promote the headrest.…”

“…Procedure 1 (P1): The object was shown by the examiner, who was positioned in front and out of the infant's reaching distance, during 2 min at the infant's midline, shoulder height, and arm length (Toledo & Tudella, 2008;Toledo et al, 2011). After reach, the object was carefully removed (or caught) and shown again to elicit a new reaching movement, with an interval between them of approximately 5 s. Thus, the total number of reaches depended on the infant.…”

“…The groups investigated included Down syndrome (De Campos, Rocha, & Savelsbergh, 2010), cerebral lesions (Kuhtz-Buschbeck, Stolze, Golge, & Ritz, 2003;Van Der Heide et al, 2004), and premature birth (Fallang et al, 2003;Toledo & Tudella, 2008;Toledo, Soares, & Tudella, 2011). The interest in prematurity has increased recently due to the high survival rate of preterm infants and to the high risk of motor developmental delay in this population.…”