The effects of a tactile stimulation/range‐finding programme on the development of very low birth weight infants during initial hospitalization

PAUL J.M. HELDERS*, BERNARD P. CATS, JANJAAP VAN DER NET, SYLVIA B. DEBAST

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Summary During 1984 and 1985, after their referral to the intermediate care nursery, 51 healthy very low birth weight infants were subjected to a tactile stimulation programme imitating the spatial limitation which occurs towards the end of gestation. The sensory motor development of the study group was compared with the development of a control group during initial hospitalization. The study and control group differed significantly in the neonatal period after completion of the programme. The study group showed better auditive responses (P < 0.02), more variations in hand movements (P < 0.01), less hypotony (P < 0.02), more sucking (P < 0.02), and less bradycardia and apnoea (P < 0.01).

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)341-354
Number of pages14
JournalChild: Care, Health and Development
Volume14
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 1988

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