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Muscle tendon unit comparisons between infants born preterm and infants born full term: a pilot study
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Muscle tendon unit comparisons between infants born preterm and infants born full term: a pilot study

Marybeth Grant Beuttler and Patricia A Shewokis
Pediatric physical therapy, v 19(4), pp 309-314
01 Jan 2007
PMID: 18004199
url
https://doi.org/10.1097/pep.0b013e3181592912View
Published, Version of Record (VoR)Maybe Open Access (Publisher Bronze) Open

Abstract

PURPOSEThis study assessed differences in measures of the muscle tendon unit between infants born preterm and infants born full-term.METHODSTwenty infants born between 26 and 36 weeks of gestation comprised the preterm group and 21 infants born between 38 and 42 weeks of gestation comprised the full-term group. Gastrocnemius-soleus measurements were obtained with a taut tendon and relaxed muscle belly (Ao), and with a taut tendon and elongated muscle belly (Amax). Muscle extensibility measurements were obtained with a goniometer. Ao to Amax was the difference between Ao and Amax measurements.RESULTSStatistically significant differences were found for both measures of muscle extensibility, but not for the difference between these measures. The preterm group demonstrated measures of Ao and Amax in more extended ankle positions.CONCLUSIONMuscle length differences are present between infants born full-term and infants born preterm. These differences are most likely due to differences in tendon length.

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