In a prospective study, 10 infants born between 32 to 36 weeks of gestation and 10 infants born at fullterm were observed on day 15, and in months 1, 2 and 3. The investigation showed that the development of early postural control takes place in a sequential way in preterm infants, similar to that of in fullterm infants. However, some movement components for the acquisition of motor abilities showed a different trend in the development of preterm infants when compared to fullterm infants: the onset for the acquisition of the extensor and flexor patterns was slower and the distribution of the load bearing was less mature.
early posture control; preterm and term infants; movement components; load bearing
