Authors:
Jelena Marunica Karšaj
1
and
Igor Gruić
2
Affiliations:
1
University Department of Rheumatology, Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, University Hospital Centre “Sestre milosrdnice”, Vinogradska cesta 29, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
;
2
Faculty of Kinesiology University of Zagreb, Horvaćanski zavoj 15, 10 000, Zagreb, Croatia
Keyword(s):
Muscle Tone, Neurodevelopment, Jaundice, Infants, Obstetric Mode of Delivery.
Abstract:
Differences and relationships between chrono-biological (body weight-BW, body length-BL, gestational age-GA) and motor-functional characteristics (e.g., muscle tone) of infants with relation to different obstetric mode of delivery and jaundice were analysed. The assessment of muscle tone is an integral part of neuromotor evaluation. The study included 179 infants of both genders (AS±SD: age 158,36±110,91 days; BW 3267,78±708,69 grams; and BL of 49,33±3,09 cm) due to muscle tone disorders with the presence of mild and moderate neurodevelopmental disorders as a sequelae of immature brain impairment. Study revealed statistically significant differences in chrono-biological variables depending upon the different obstetric mode of delivery (BW, BL, and GA), as well upon neonatal jaundice (BW, BL, and possibly GA). Also, there is a statistically significant correlation among chrono-biological variables (BW, BL, GA: 0,62-0,88). When compared to infant’s age at first physiatrist examination
(AFE), individually and combined with GA, correlations imply importance of further inter-parametrial insights – in this case with relation to muscle tone classified in 4 groups (normal-, hypo-, hyper-, and changing-). Findings confirm statistically significant differences between infants differently categorized by muscle tone and infant’s AFE- among hypertonic and hypotonic infants as well among hypertonic and alternating ones respectively. Although there are no correlations between the AFE with BW, BL (with GA they are very little correlated – 0,19), there is an indication that the existing categorization by tone demands more frequent or earlier 'screening' - embedded into existing communication for a balanced development overall
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