Impact of Early Physiotherapy Intervention on Neurodevelopment in Preterm Low Birth Weight Infants during the First Six Months of Life

Abstract

Abstract A prospective, controlled trial was conducted to assess the outcome of early physical therapy intervention on preterm low birth weight infants during the first six months of life. A cohort of 100 preterm low birth weight infants who got admitted in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and referral newborn (RNB) of Raja Muthiah Medical College and Hospital (RMMC & H) were included prospectively. Infants who received regular early physiotherapy intervention were assigned as interventional group (EI) and infants who were advised but did not turn up for early intervention as comparison group (NEI). The Amiel-Tison neurologic examination and Denver developmental screening test (DDST) were used and results were compared. Better performance of infants was found in EI group in neurologic and developmental domains. The data suggest significant benefit of the use of EI programme over NEI in the neurodevelopmental outcome of preterm LBW infants at 6 months of corrected age.