HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: ptj.20080120v1 89/1/60    most recent Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Rapid Responses are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Teulier, C. Articles by Ulrich, B. D Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Teulier, C. Articles by Ulrich, B. D Social Bookmarking                      What's this?

Stepping Responses of Infants With Myelomeningocele When Supported on a Motorized Treadmill

C Teulier, PhD, is Postdoctoral Fellow, Developmental Neuromotor Control Laboratory, Division of Kinesiology, University of Michigan, 401 Washtenaw Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2214 (USA).
BA Smith, PT, DPT, is PhD candidate, Developmental Neuromotor Control Laboratory, Division of Kinesiology, University of Michigan.
M Kubo, PT, ScD, is Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan.
CL Chang, PT, PhD, is Research Associate, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
V Moerchen, PT, PhD, is Assistant Professor, Department of Human Movement Science, University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
K Murazko, MD, is Chair and Professor, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
BD Ulrich, PhD, is Professor and Dean, Developmental Neuromotor Control Laboratory, Division of Kinesiology, University of Michigan.

cteulier{at}umich.edu

Background and Purpose: Infants with myelomeningocele (MMC) have difficulty with, and show delays in, acquiring functional skills, such as walking. This study examined whether infants with MMC will respond to treadmill practice by producing stepping patterns or at least motor activity during the first year after birth. This study also compared the stepping trajectories of infants with MMC across age with those of infants with typical development (TD) to analyze the characteristics of the development of stepping patterns in infants with MMC early in life.

Participants: Twelve infants with MMC (lumbar and sacral lesions) and 12 infants with TD were the participants in this study.

Methods: The infants were tested on a treadmill at ages 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months, with no treadmill practice between test sessions. Infants were supported on the treadmill for twelve 20-second trials. A digital camera and behavior coding were used to determine step rate, interlimb stepping patterns, step parameters, and motor activity level.

Results: Treadmill practice elicited steps in infants with MMC (14.4 steps/minute during the year) but less so than in infants with TD (40.8 steps/minute). Responsiveness was affected by lesion level but varied markedly among infants. Interlimb stepping was less readily alternating, but step parameters were similar to those produced by their peers with TD. Finally, holding infants with MMC on a moving treadmill resulted in greater motor activity (17% during the year) than holding infants on a nonmoving treadmill.

Discussion and Conclusion: Infants with MMC responded to the treadmill by stepping (but less so than infants with TD) and showing increased motor activity, but they demonstrated a different developmental trajectory. Future studies are needed to explore the impact of enhancing sensory input during treadmill practice to optimize responses in infants with MMC.

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?