Effects of motor physical therapy on bone mineralization in premature infants: a randomized controlled study.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of physical therapy on bone mineralization, weight gain and growth in preterm infants.


METHODS
After fulfilling the inclusion criteria, preterm infants were matched for gestational age and birth weight and then randomly assigned to the physiotherapy group (PG, n=15) and control group (CG, n=14). The PG received motor physical therapy for 15 min daily, 5 times per week until hospital discharge. Bone mineralization was measured by total body dual energy X-ray beam absorptiometry (DEXA) at the onset and end of the study. Statistical analysis was realized by ANCOVA and linear correlation tests.


RESULTS
The physical therapy group (PG) presented greater body weight gain per day (27.4+/-2.4 vs 21.01+/-4.4 g, P<0.001) and length (1.3+/-0.3 vs 0.8+/-0.2 cm week(-1), P<0.001) than did the control group (CG). Body composition values verified by DEXA were greater for the PG. The mean gain in bone mineral content (BMC) (mg) was greater in the PG (434+/-247.5 vs -8.9+/-11.4, P<0.001), as was the mean bone mineral density (BMD) gain (mg cm(-2)) (8.4+/-5.6 vs -3.1+/-5.5, P<0.001). The gain in bone area (BA,cm(2)) was 10.3+/-5 in the PG vs 1.5 +/-2 in the CG (P<0.001). The gain in lean mass (LM) (g) in the PG was also greater than in the CG (271.1+/-21.4 vs 109.1+/-1.0, P<0.009). The fat mass (g) was similar between the groups (P=0.432).


CONCLUSIONS
These results showed that physiotherapy in preterm infants produced greater gains in growth, body weight, BMC, BMD, BA and LM.
Vignochi
C M
CM
Department of Physiotherapy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Graduate Studies in Universidade Luterana do Brasil, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil. carinemv@yahoo.com.br
Miura
E
E
Canani
L H
LH
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D001823:Body Composition; D015519:Bone Density; D001846:Bone Development; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D015430:Weight Gain