Jennifer Bosserman is a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT). She received clinical specialty training at The Johns Hopkins Hospital and George Washington University PT Residency Program. Jennifer is currently completing her neonatal PT fellowship in the University of North Carolina’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Jennifer began her research during her DPT program, with the help of her mentor Dana McCarty, and has continued working on these projects throughout her residency and fellowship programs. She has one published systematic review examining examines different tools to assess premature infants’ movement patterns and is currently working on a feasibility project. The current scope of her research is to determine if a force plate can predict future motor impairment in the preterm infant. 

Feasibility of Using a Force Plate to Measure Very Preterm Infant Posture and Movement at Term Equivalent Age

Very preterm infants (<32 weeks gestation) are at elevated risk for motor impairment. Force plate-derived center of pressure (COP) measures may detect early posture and movement differences, potentially improving access to early therapies. Objectives: 1) Assess feasibility of force plate-derived COP data collection in a Level IV NICU at term age; 2) Describe posture and movement characteristics in this population. Twenty-one infants were placed supine on a Bertec force plate wearing a diaper and one clothing layer. COP metrics (Total Distance X/Y, Displacement X/Y, Path Length, Ellipse Area) were recorded over 3 minutes. Birth gestational age (BGA), postmenstrual age (PMA), Intraventricular Hemorrhage, Bronchopulmonary Pulmonary Dysplasia, and cranial flattening were documented. Feasibility benchmarks were met: 81% tolerated 3 minutes in states 3–5 (Goal ≥70%); 86% assessments followed protocol (Goal ≥80%); 70% parental consent (Goal ≥70%). Infants moved more in the Y than X direction. BPD was associated with reduced movement (Total Distance X/Y, Path Length, Y Displacement). Cranial flattening correlated with slightly increased movement metrics. Each additional BGA week increased Path Length by 12 m (p=0.04); each PMA week (37–40) decreased it by 22 m (p=0.05). Force plate use was feasible in very preterm infants at term age. COP measures may differentiate posture and movement by age and comorbidity. Larger studies are needed to explore these associations.