title: Ankle Movements During Supine Kicking in Infants Born Preterm.
abstract: Knowledge of musculoskeletal factors that influence supine kicking of infants born preterm has implications for early intervention.
  
  
  
  Differences exist between infants born preterm and full-term in ankle kinematics during supine kicking, which are attributable to passive measures of the gastrocnemius/soleus (g/s) muscle tendon unit (MTU).
  
  
  
  Twenty infants born full-term and 22 born preterm were measured at term, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks of age.
  
  
  
  Ankle kinematics during supine kicking and g/s MTU length.
  
  
  
  Infants born preterm demonstrated less dorsiflexion, more plantar flexion, and more total ankle range during supine kicking. Gestational age explained 69% to 85% of the variability in MTU length from term to 12 weeks of age. MTU lengths explained 0% to 42% of the variance in ankle kinematics.
  
  
  
  Passive measures of the g/s MTU may inform clinicians about ankle kinematics in newborns to 12-week infants during supine kicking.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy (Dr Grant-Beuttler), Crean College of Health and Behavioral Science, Chapman University, Irvine, California; Doctoral Programs in Pediatric Science (Dr Heriza), Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions, Provo, Utah; Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences (Dr Palisano), Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Department of Physical Therapy (Drs Reddien Wagner and Miller), Panuska College of Professional Studies, University of Scranton, Scranton, Pennsylvania; Department of Human Physiology (Dr Karduna), University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon.
authors.forename: Marybeth
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grant-Beuttler
authors.forename: Carolyn B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Heriza
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Palisano
authors.forename: Barbara Reddien
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: Debra P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karduna
mesh_terms: D000842:Ankle; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D047929:Term Birth / Q000502:physiology