Daily physical activity in low-risk pre-term infants: positive impact on bone strength and mid-upper arm circumference.

BACKGROUND

Prevention of pre-term osteopenia is important because it results in ventilator dependency, fractures in long bones, softening of the ribs or respiratory failure due to bone breaks in newborns.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in bone strength and anthropometric indices of very low birth-weight (VLBW) pre-term infants undergoing daily physical activity.

SUBJECTS AND

METHODS

Forty VLBW and low-risk pre-term infants (n intervention group = 20, n control group = 20) with a birth weight of 800-1600 g and gestational age of 26-32 weeks were recruited. Pre-term infants in the control group were provided with standard nursing care whereas those in the intervention group received a daily physical activity programme in addition to standard nursing care during the study. Before and after the study, anthropometric indices and tibial speed of sound (SOS) values were measured.

RESULTS

In this study the tibial SOS values were found to be increased in the intervention group (p < 0.001) and decreased in the control group (p = 0.002). The increase in percentage of the mid-upper arm circumference of infants was significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

A daily physical activity programme increased SOS values of the tibia and mid-upper arm circumference in VLBW pre-term infants.