Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-2009

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Differences in the gastrocnemius-soleus muscle and tendon have been documented shortly after birth in infants born preterm compared with infants born at term. Knowledge of muscle tendon unit lengths at term age to 12 weeks of age in infants born preterm may be useful in understanding motor development.

Participants and Method: Gastrocnemius-soleus muscle tendon unit lengths were compared at term age, at 6 weeks of age, and at 12 weeks of age (preterm adjusted age) in 20 infants born full term and 22 infants born preterm.

Results: Significant differences were found between the 2 groups on taut tendon, relaxed muscle length (AO); taut tendon, stretched muscle length (AMax); and muscle stretch (AO to AMax). Infants born preterm demonstrated measures of AO and AMax in positions of greater plantar flexion compared with infants born full term. Significant differences in measurements of AO were found between term age and 12 weeks of age, indicating that the tendon lengthens during this period for both groups.

Discussion and Conclusion: These results provide knowledge of musculoskeletal development of the gastrocnemius-soleus muscle and tendon. Differences in musculoskeletal measurements are consistent with uterine confinement in the last weeks of full-term gestation. These findings have implications when examining the musculoskeletal system in infants born preterm who are demonstrating functional changes.

Comments

This article was originally published in Physical Therapy, volume 89, issue 2, in 2009. DOI: 10.2522/ptj.20070306

Peer Reviewed

1

Copyright

"American Physical Therapy Association"

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 License

Share

COinS
 
 

To view the content in your browser, please download Adobe Reader or, alternately,
you may Download the file to your hard drive.

NOTE: The latest versions of Adobe Reader do not support viewing PDF files within Firefox on Mac OS and if you are using a modern (Intel) Mac, there is no official plugin for viewing PDF files within the browser window.