抄録
The number of physical therapists treating preterm infants in NICUs is increasing. Preterm infants are by definition still essentially in the intrauterine stage. Accordingly, there are as yet few guidelines concerning physical therapy for preterm infants. In this study, the development of fetus behavior was monitored by real-time ultrasonography. A total of 50 fetuses between 8 and 18 weeks of gestation were observed in terms of the development of general movements, movements of the upper extremities, and movements of the lower extremities. Movements of the neck were subsequently analyzed in detail. Fetal movement began with quick lateral bending of the neck and trunk, and the volume and quality of movements changed considerably during the period of observation. This change is due to the progress of the central nervous system. It is commonly thought that the progress of central nervous system is completely dependent on genetic inheritance. However, this study suggests the possibility that such progress is at least partially induced by afferent impulses from the periphery. Now that physical therapy is often recommended for immature infants, the developmental process of fetus behavior needs to be more fully examined.
