Early Physiotherapy Intervention in Low Birth Weight Infants During the First Six Months of Life

Abstract

A prospective, controlled trial was conducted to assess the effect of early physical therapy intervention on low birth weight infants during the first six months of life. A cohort of 100 low birth weight (LBW) 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) & 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. Results: Better performance of infants was found in EI group in neurological and developmental domains. Conclusion: The data suggest significant benefit of the use of EI program over NEI in LBW infants.