Abstract
PurposeWe compared postural stability and subjective visual vertical performance in a group of very preterm-born children aged 3-4 years and in a group of age-matched full-term children.Materials and MethodsA platform (from TechnoConcept) was used to measure postural control in children. Perception of subjective visual vertical was also recorded with posture while the child had to adjust the vertical in the dark or with visual perturbation. Two other conditions (control conditions) were also recorded while the child was on the platform: for a fixation of the vertical bar, and in eyes closed condition.ResultsPostural performance was poor in preterm-born children compared to that of age-matched full-term children: the surface area, the length in medio-lateral direction and the mean speed of the center of pressure (CoP) were significantly larger in the preterm-born children group (p < 0.04, p < 0.01, and p < 0.04, respectively). Dual task in both groups of children significantly affected postural control. The subjective visual vertical (SVV) values were more variable and less precise in preterm-born children.Discussion-ConclusionsWe suggest that poor postural control as well as perception of verticality observed in preterm-born children could be due to immaturity of the cortical processes involved in the motor control and in the treatment of perception and orientation of verticality.
Highlights
7% of premature children are born in France every year
Postural performance was poor in preterm-born children compared to that of age-matched full-term children: the surface area, the length in medio-lateral direction and the mean speed of the center of pressure (CoP) were significantly larger in the preterm-born children group (p < 0.04, p < 0.01, and p < 0.04, respectively)
The main findings of this study are as follows: (i) Postural performance is different in pretermborn children from that of age-matched full-term children; (ii) Dual task in young children affects postural control; (iii) subjective visual vertical (SVV) values are more variable and less precise in preterm-born children
Summary
7% of premature children are born in France every year. These children have a greater risk of developing deficiencies and motor and cognitive impairments during childhood and adolescence [1]. Lee and Aronson [8] first showed the role of visual information for a good control of posture in infants by studying the standing posture of seven infants from 13 to 16 months with optic flow pattern stimuli. These authors reported backward or forward body sways of infants, suggesting compensatory adjustments to posture made in response to the visual proprioceptive information they received. It is well known that the body image builds itself on the basis of sensory information transmitted by the body during a movement and during interactions with the world that develops during childhood [18;19]
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