title: Developmental study of early posture control in preterm and fullterm infants.
abstract: In a prospective study, 10 infants born between 32 to 36 weeks of gestation and 10 infants born at fullterm were observed on day 15, and in months 1, 2 and 3. The investigation showed that the development of early postural control takes place in a sequential way in preterm infants, similar to that of in fullterm infants. However, some movement components for the acquisition of motor abilities showed a different trend in the development of preterm infants when compared to fullterm infants: the onset for the acquisition of the extensor and flexor patterns was slower and the distribution of the load bearing was less mature.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisioterapia, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, PR, Brasil.
authors.forename: Eliane Mewes
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Gaetan
authors.forename: Maria Valeriana L
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Moura-Ribeiro
mesh_terms: D002657:Child Development; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000502:physiology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D009068:Movement; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D016684:Prone Position / Q000502:physiology; D016683:Supine Position / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors