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Gastrocnemius-soleus muscle tendon unit changes over the first 12 weeks of adjusted age in infants born preterm
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Gastrocnemius-soleus muscle tendon unit changes over the first 12 weeks of adjusted age in infants born preterm

Marybeth Grant-Beuttler, Robert J Palisano, Debra P Miller, Barbara Reddien Wagner, Carolyn B Heriza and Patricia A Shewokis
Physical therapy, v 89(2), pp 136-148
Feb 2009
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2522/ptj.20070306
PMID: 19131398
Featured in Collection :   UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
url
https://doi.org/10.2522/ptj.20070306View
Published, Version of Record (VoR)CC BY-NC V4.0,  Open

Abstract

Ankle Joint Arthrometry, Articular Confidence Intervals Female Gestational Age Humans Infant Infant, Newborn Infant, Premature - physiology Longitudinal Studies Male Motor Skills Disorders - prevention & control Muscle, Skeletal - growth & development Muscle, Skeletal - physiology Musculoskeletal Development Physical Therapy Modalities Reference Values Reproducibility of Results Single-Blind Method Tendons - growth & development Tendons - physiology
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. 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. Significant differences were found between the 2 groups on taut tendon, relaxed muscle length (A(O)); taut tendon, stretched muscle length (A(Max)); and muscle stretch (A(O) to A(Max)). Infants born preterm demonstrated measures of A(O) and A(Max) in positions of greater plantar flexion compared with infants born full term. Significant differences in measurements of A(O) were found between term age and 12 weeks of age, indicating that the tendon lengthens during this period for both groups. 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.

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4 citations in Scopus

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Orthopedics
Rehabilitation
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