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Motor skills in adolescents with low birth weight
K A I Evensen1, T Vik, J Helbostad
1Department of Laboratory Medicine, Children's and Women's Health, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway. karianne.i.evensen@medisin.ntnu.no
Insights
Adolescents born with very low birth weight (VLBW) or small for gestational age (SGA) face a higher risk of motor problems. This study highlights the long-term motor skill development challenges for these at-risk youth.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Child Neurology
- Motor Control Research
Background:
- Motor deficits are observed in low birth weight children, yet adolescent motor skills remain understudied.
- Previous research indicates potential developmental challenges for low birth weight populations.
- Adolescent motor development is crucial for independence and participation in daily activities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of motor problems in adolescents who were born with low birth weight.
- To investigate motor skill outcomes in very low birth weight (VLBW) and small for gestational age (SGA) adolescents.
- To compare motor skill deficits in VLBW and SGA adolescents against a control group.
Main Methods:
- A population-based study assessed 54 very low birth weight (VLBW), 59 small for gestational age (SGA), and 83 control adolescents at age 14.
- The Movement Assessment Battery for Children (Movement ABC) was utilized to evaluate motor skills.
- Participants were categorized based on birth weight and gestational age criteria.
Main Results:
- One in four VLBW adolescents (OR 9.3) and one in six SGA adolescents (OR 4.7) exhibited motor problems compared to 3.7% of controls.
- Motor problems in VLBW adolescents showed no significant sex differences.
- SGA boys demonstrated a particular increased risk in manual dexterity deficits.
Conclusions:
- Adolescents born with very low birth weight (VLBW) experience a significantly increased risk of motor problems.
- Small for gestational age (SGA) adolescents also show a heightened susceptibility to motor skill impairments.
- These findings underscore the need for monitoring and early intervention for motor development in at-risk adolescent populations.
Background:
Minor motor problems have been reported in low birthweight children, but few studies have assessed motor skills in adolescents.
Objective:
To examine the prevalence of motor problems in adolescents with low birth weight.
Method:
Fifty four very low birthweight (VLBW: birth weight < or = 1500 g), 59 term small for gestational age (SGA: birth weight < 10th centile), and 83 control (birth weight > or = 10th centile at term) children were assessed with the Movement assessment battery for children (Movement ABC) at the age of 14 in a population based study.
Results:
One in four VLBW children (odds ratio (OR) 9.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.5 to 34.5) and one in six SGA children (OR 4.7, 95%CI 1.2 to 18.4) had motor problems compared with controls (3.7%). There were no sex differences in motor problems in the VLBW group, and the increased risk was consistent across the continuum of the Movement ABC. For SGA children, the increased risk of motor problems was particularly in manual dexterity in boys.
Conclusion:
VLBW and SGA adolescents have increased risk of motor problems compared with control children.
