Article

AIM: To compare postural control at 4 years' corrected age in very preterm
children (VPT; <30wks gestational age) with term-born (>37wks gestational age)
comparison participants. METHOD: Ninety VPT children (45 males, 45 females; mean
age at assessment 4y 1mo; mean birthweight 1022g; mean gestational age 27.3wks)
and 36 term comparison participants (17 males, 19 females; mean age at assessment
4y; mean birthweight 3507g; mean gestational age 39.4wks) were assessed for
postural stability with a portable force plate, the Wii Balance Board. Tasks
included static two-limbed standing with eyes open, eyes closed, eyes open on a
foam mat, eyes closed on a foam mat, a cognitive dual task, and single leg
standing on each limb. The cognitive dual task involved showing the participants
a series of pictures that appeared on screen at 2-second intervals. Impaired
postural control was defined as increased postural sway measured by centre of
pressure path-length velocity. Functional performance was assessed during dynamic
jumping and hopping tasks using the outcome measure flight time, with shorter
time indicating worse performance. RESULTS: VPT children had impaired static and
dynamic balance, with increased postural sway under all conditions, and reduced
flight times compared with children born at term. When results were adjusted for
body weight, the only group differences in postural control were in the cognitive
dual task (cm/s; mean difference 0.6; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.02, 1.2;
p=0.04) and flight times (ms; jumping; mean difference -26.0; 95% CI -47.1, -5.0;
p=0.02; left leg hopping; mean difference -30.1; 95% CI -48.5, -11.8; p=0.002).
INTERPRETATION: VPT children demonstrated reduced postural control at 4 years of
age compared with term-born children when presented with a cognitive dual task.
They also performed worse during jumping and hopping tasks.
CI - (c) 2014 Mac Keith Press.

Langue : ANGLAIS