Impact of Early Physiotherapy Intervention on Neurodevelopment in Preterm Low Birth Weight Infants

Abstract

A prospective, controlled trial was conducted to assess the outcome of early physical therapy intervention on preterm low birth weight infants during the first six months of life. A cohort of 100 preterm low birth weight infants who got admitted in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and referral newborn unit (RNB) of Raja Muthiah Medical College and hospital (RMMC&H) were included prospectively. Infants who received regular early physiotherapy intervention were assigned as interventional group (EI) & infants who were advised but did not turn up for early intervention as comparison group (NEI) .The Amiel-Tison neurologic examination and Denver developmental screening test (DDST) were used and results were compared. Results: Better performance of infants in EI group in neurologic and developmental outcome. Conclusion: The data suggest significant benefit of the use of EI program over NEI in the neurodevelopmental outcome of preterm LBW infants at 6 months of corrected age.