Journal Article

Effects of motor physical therapy on bone mineralization in premature infants: a randomized controlled study

Vignochi, C M, Miura, E, Canani, L H

2008

Overview

Objective: To study the effect of physical therapy on bone mineralization, weight gain and growth in preterm infants. Method: 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. Result: 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). Conclusion: These results showed that physiotherapy in preterm infants produced greater gains in growth, body weight, BMC, BMD, BA and LM.

• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group US,Nature Publishing Group
• Subject: Absorptiometry, Photon / Birth weight / Body Composition / Body fat / Body weight / Body weight gain / Bone Density / Bone Development / Bone mineral content / Bone mineral density / Care and treatment / Diagnosis / Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry / Endocrinology / Enteral nutrition / Gestational age / Graduate studies / Health aspects / Hospitals / Humans / Infant, Newborn / Infant, Premature - growth & development / Infant, Premature - metabolism / Infant, Very Low Birth Weight - growth & development / Infant, Very Low Birth Weight - metabolism / Infants / Infants (Premature) / Intensive care / Medicine / Medicine & Public Health / Mineralization / Neonates / Newborn babies / original-article / Osteopenia / Pediatric Surgery / Pediatrics / Physical therapists / Physical therapy / Physical Therapy Modalities / Premature babies / Premature birth / Statistical analysis / Therapeutics, Physiological / Weight Gain