Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 2, 2026
Quantified Assessment of Infant's Gross Motor Abilities Using a Multisensor Wearable
Published on: May 17, 2024
Quantitative aspects of the early motor repertoire in preterm infants: do they predict minor neurological dysfunction
Janneke L M Bruggink1, Christa Einspieler, Phillipa R Butcher
1Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Beatrix Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands. j.l.m.bruggink@bkk.umcg.nl
Insights
Quantitative motor repertoire assessments in preterm infants can predict neurological outcomes. An obligatory asymmetric tonic neck (ATN) posture significantly increases the risk of developing minor neurological dysfunction (MND).
Area of Science:
- Pediatric neurology
- Developmental pediatrics
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Qualitative motor repertoire assessments at 11-16 weeks post-term predict minor neurological dysfunction (MND) at 7-11 years.
- The predictive value of quantitative motor repertoire aspects remains largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if quantitative motor repertoire aspects, assessed between 6-24 weeks post-term, predict neurological outcomes at 7-11 years.
- To explore the predictive role of quantitative motor features in preterm infants' long-term neurological development.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study of preterm infants.
- Quantitative motor repertoire assessed between 6-24 weeks post-term.
- Neurological outcome assessed at 7-11 years using Touwens' examination, classifying children as normal, with complex MND, or cerebral palsy (CP).
Main Results:
- Eighty-two preterm infants were analyzed; 18% developed CP, 60% were normal, and 22% had MND at follow-up.
- The obligatory asymmetric tonic neck (ATN) posture provided additional predictive value beyond known qualitative aspects.
- Normal fidgety movements with an abnormal concurrent motor repertoire and an obligatory ATN posture increased MND risk to 75% (vs. 15% without ATN).
Conclusions:
- Quantitative motor repertoire aspects, specifically the obligatory ATN posture at 11-16 weeks post-term, contribute to predicting neurological outcomes.
- Early quantitative motor assessments can identify preterm infants at higher risk for neurological dysfunction.
Background:
Qualitative aspects of the motor repertoire, at 11-16 weeks post-term are predictive for minor neurological dysfunction (MND) at 7 to 11 years of age. Predictive value of quantitative aspects is unknown so far.
Aim:
To investigate whether quantitative aspects of the motor repertoire between 6 and 24 weeks post-term also have predictive value for neurological outcome at 7 to 11 years of age.
Study Design:
Prospective cohort study.
Subjects:
Preterm infants from whom several quantitative aspects of the motor repertoire were assessed between 6 and 24 weeks post-term.
Outcome Measures:
Neurological outcome at 7-11 years of age was assessed according to Touwens' neurological examination. Children were classified as neurologically normal, or as having complex MND or cerebral palsy (CP).
Results:
Eighty-two children were included. At 7 to 11 years of age 15 children (18%) had developed CP, 49 (60%) were neurologically normal, and 18 (22%) had MND. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that, when the qualitative aspects of the motor repertoire known to predict neurological outcome were taken into account, only the asymmetric tonic neck (ATN) posture provided additional predictive value. In case of normal fidgety movements (FMs) accompanied by an abnormal concurrent motor repertoire, the presence of an obligatory ATN increased the risk for developing complex MND to 75%; absence of an obligatory ATN reduced the risk to 15% (p<0.05).
Conclusions:
Quantitative aspects of the motor repertoire at 11-16 weeks post-term, in particular the presence of an obligatory ATN posture, contribute to the prediction of neurological outcome at 7 to 11 years of age.
