Effect of a developmental program on motor performance in infants born preterm

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Developmental Pediatrics
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Preterm infants often exhibit delayed motor development compared to full-term infants.
• Early intervention is crucial for optimizing motor outcomes in preterm populations.
• Standard care may not fully address the unique motor needs of preterm infants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a structured motor developmental program for preterm infants.
• To compare the motor performance of preterm infants receiving an intervention versus standard care.
• To assess the impact of the program on motor development trajectories from term equivalent to four months adjusted age.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial design was employed with 84 preterm infants.
• Infants were allocated to either a control group or an intervention group.
• Motor performance was assessed monthly using the Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP) by blinded assessors.

Main Results:

• All groups demonstrated linear trends in motor performance progression over time.
• The intervention group exhibited the most significant improvements in motor performance.
• Statistical analysis (ANOVA and Scheffé comparisons) confirmed significant differences favoring the intervention group.

Conclusions:

• The motor developmental program positively impacts motor performance in preterm infants.
• Early, targeted interventions can enhance motor skill acquisition in this vulnerable population.
• The findings support the implementation of such programs for preterm infants to improve developmental trajectories.