8^th World Physiotherapists and Physicians Summit

Neonatal Physiotherapy is an area of Pediatric Physiotherapy, whose intervention framework covers, mainly, the first month of life. The physiotherapists who develop their work in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units and the neonatal intermediate care units require a specific training that demands to reach the necessary competences to safely and effectively fulfill their intervention; and understand the impact of different neonatal conditions on the motor development of the child. It is estimated that around fifteen million preterm infants are born in the world every year. If

we take into account the increase of prematurely born children who survive, thanks to the evolution of neonatal care, and that the frequency of appearance of motor and respiratory sequelae described in them remains constant (due to high morbidity), it is important, from the health, social and economic point of view, put into practice strategies that can improve the evolution of these children. In this regard, the development of physiotherapy treatments aimed at preterm infants from a preventive and assistance perspective is fundamental to reduce to minimum the consequences of motor, respiratory and orofacial risk factors, etc.

In order to contribute to the maturation of fundamental functions such as breathing, suction and swallowing; promote the motor development of the newborn; treat the different pathologies and injuries; and provide guidance and support to parents. Neonatal physiotherapists develop specific functions; such as their identification evaluation and intervention. In addition, coordination functions, with the rest of the interdisciplinary team, and research as fundamental basis.