THE EFFECT OF THERAPEUTIC POSITIONING ON THE PREMATURE NEWBORN

Abstract

Prematurity is a complex syndrome, with multiple etiological factors, and is associated with a wide spectrum of clinical conditions that define survival and the pattern of growth and development, in the various risk subgroups. Being the main cause of morbidity and mortality among newborns, with around 1.1 million deaths per year worldwide. Premature birth is defined as birth before 37 complete weeks of gestational age (GA), the associated causes may be of pre-existing maternal origin, gestational or socioeconomic and demographic. Early complications of prematurity include respiratory distress syndrome, apnea, hypothermia, hypoglycemia, eating difficulties, immaturity of the central nervous system and infections, with the risk of occurring at least one complication seven times greater in this group, when compared to the newborn. Forward. However, therapeutic positioning has become a great ally within the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), as it has a great influence on the biomechanics of the rib cage, as it serves as a support point and muscle contractility, alters the pleural pressure, increases the volume pulmonary air, generating less respiratory effort and less mechanical disadvantage to the respiratory system. Therefore, the objective of this study is to discuss the effects of therapeutic positioning and the importance of the physiotherapist in the treatment of premature infants admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.