Daniele de Almeida Soares

The effect of a short bout of practice on reaching behavior in late preterm infants at the onset of reaching: a randomized controlled trial.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a short bout of practice on reaching behavior in late preterm infants at the onset of goal-directed reaching. The study was designed as a blind, three-arm parallel-group, randomized controlled, clinical trial. Thirty-six late preterm infants were recruited from a maternity hospital and allocated according to computer generated randomization into groups that received reaching practice based on either a blocked schedule, a serial schedule, or no practice. Practice consisted of a 4 min session of induced reaching using a toy in three activities guided by a physical therapist. The activities were elicited in separate blocks for the blocked practice group and in a pre-established order for the serial practice group. The control group stayed in the physical therapists lap but was not stimulated to reach. The infants were assessed 3.3±1.4 days after the onset of goal-directed reaching in three tests: pre-test (immediately before practice), post-test (immediately after practice), and retention test (24 h after post-test). During assessments, the infants were seated in a baby chair and a toy was presented at his/her midline within reaching distance for 2 min. Changes in the number of reaches, proportions of uni/bimanual reaches and kinematic parameters of reaching were main outcome measures. From pre- to post-test, the amount of reaches and bimanual reaches increased in the serial practice group, but the increase was not maintained in the retention test. Kinematic parameters were not affected by practice. Changes in the reaching behavior of late preterm infants can be triggered after the first few minutes of toy-oriented experience based on a serial practice schedule. These changes are not consolidated one day later.

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.

Development of exploratory behavior in late preterm infants

Exploratory behaviors of 9 late preterm infants and 10 full-term infants were evaluated longitudinally at 5, 6 and 7 months of age. Eight exploratory behaviors were coded. The preterm infants mouthed the object less and had delayed gains in Waving compared to the full-term infants.

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

ABSTRACT The authors investigated the influence of additional weight in the reaching behavior of preterm infants. Nine low-risk preterm and 10 full-term infants age 5–7 months participated. A toy was presented in two procedures: (a) baseline and (b) additional weight (bracelet with weight of 20% of the infants upper limb mass). The additional weight reduced the straightness index at 5 months, increased the mean velocity and decreased the movement units at all months, and increased unsuccessful grasps at 5 and 7 months in preterm infants. Preterm infants showed less movement units at all months and less unsuccessful grasps at 6 months compared with full-term infants. Weight disturbance seems to change the intrinsic dynamics involved in reaching movements of 5–7-month-old preterm infants.