Background: Preterm birth and medical complications related to Low birth weight can adversely affect long-term development, often leading to neuromotor delays, intellectual disabilities, and behavioural challenges. Early Intervention involves delivering specialised therapeutic programs to infants at risk of developmental delays with regular evaluations of their motor skills, cognitive abilities, language development, and adaptive functioning.
Aim: This study investigated the effect of early physiotherapy intervention
on the neurodevelopmental outcomes of preterm low birth weight (LBW) infants
during their first six months of life.
Methodology: A total of 100 preterm LBW infants were admitted to
the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and the Referral Newborn (RNB) Unit at
Raja Muthiah Medical College and Hospital (RMMC&H) and recruited for the
study. The Early Intervention (EI) group consisted of infants who consistently
received early physiotherapy sessions. In contrast, the Non-Early Intervention
(NEI) group included infants whose families declined participation despite
being advised and counselled. The Amiel-Tison Neurologic Examination assessed
neurological function. At the same time, the Denver Developmental Screening
Test (DDST) evaluated developmental milestones, covering the gross motor, fine
motor/adaptive, language, and personal-social domains. The therapist conducted
assessments at six months of corrected age.
Results: The results revealed that infants in the EI group
exhibited significantly better outcomes across all assessed domains than those
in the NEI group. Improvements were particularly notable in gross motor and
language development. These findings highlight the critical role of early
physiotherapy in enhancing neurodevelopmental trajectories among high-risk
preterm LBW infants.
Conclusion: Early therapeutic engagement during the neonatal
period is essential for promoting more favourable long-term developmental
outcomes and mitigating the risk of delays. This study supports integrating
structured early physiotherapy programs into routine neonatal care practices to
improve the quality of life and developmental potential of this vulnerable
infant population.
Author
(s) Details
N.
Meena
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Government
Medical College and Hospital (Erstwhile RMMCH), Annamalai Nagar, Cuddalore
District, Tamil Nadu, India.
Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/aodhr/v1/5502
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