AI Article Synopsis
- Researchers studied if newborns could adapt their stepping on a moving treadmill at different speeds.
- Newborns stepped more on the moving treadmill compared to a static one, with the best results at a medium speed of 17.2 cm/s.
- Crying infants showed increased stepping quality and coordination, indicating treadmill training could benefit at-risk infants from birth, but more research is needed for optimal conditions.
Article Abstract
To shed further light on infant stepping, we investigated whether newborns could step on a treadmill and adapt their steps to graded velocities. Twenty-one newborns (mean = 3 days) were supported for 60 s trials on a treadmill that was static or moved at 13.4, 17.2, or 23.4 cm/s. Video analysis revealed that newborns made more real steps than in-place "pumps" on the moving treadmill than on the static treadmill and made more real steps at 17.2 than 23.4 cm/s. While the treadmill had no effect on arousal, stepping increased and showed higher quality and coordination across conditions when infants were crying. These findings suggest that treadmill interventions currently used to promote the development of independent locomotion in infants at risk of delay could begin at birth. Further investigation is needed to establish the optimal conditions for newborn treadmill stepping and to specify how arousal affects step rate, quality, and coordination.
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| http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/dev.21270 | DOI Listing |
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