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Motor coordination difficulties and physical fitness of extremely-low-birthweight children
Yvonne R Burns1, Marcella Danks, Michael J O'Callaghan
1Growth and Development Unit, Mater Health Services, Brisbane, Australia.
Insights
Extremely low birthweight (ELBW) children show significant motor coordination deficits and reduced fitness. Motor coordination strongly predicts cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2max) in ELBW children and their peers.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Extremely low birthweight (ELBW) survivors often exhibit motor coordination difficulties and suboptimal physical fitness.
- Understanding factors influencing fitness in this population is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of motor coordination on the cardiorespiratory fitness of ELBW children aged 11-13 years.
- To compare fitness levels and motor skills between ELBW children and their normal birthweight peers.
Main Methods:
- 109 children (54 ELBW, 55 controls) aged 11-13 years participated.
- Assessments included the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC), postural stability, strength, growth, respiratory function, and a 20m shuttle run test for maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max).
Main Results:
- ELBW children demonstrated significantly poorer postural stability and motor coordination (70% with definite motor problems).
- ELBW children were less fit (45% below 10th centile for VO2max) compared to controls.
- Motor coordination was the strongest predictor of VO2max in both ELBW and control groups.
Conclusions:
- Motor coordination deficits are prevalent in ELBW children and significantly impact their cardiorespiratory fitness.
- Interventions addressing motor skills may improve fitness outcomes for ELBW individuals.
Abstract:
Motor coordination difficulties and poor fitness exist in the extremely low birthweight (ELBW) population. This study investigated the relative impact of motor coordination on the fitness of ELBW children aged 11 to 13 years. One hundred and nine children were recruited to the study: 54 ELBW participants (mean age at assessment 12y 6mo; 31 male, 23 female; mean birthweight 769g, SD 148g; mean gestational age 26.6 weeks, SD 2.1 weeks) and 55 comparison children (mean age at assessment 12y 5mo; 28 males, 27 females; at least 37 weeks' gestation). All children completed the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC), functional tests of postural stability and strength, growth measures, and tests of respiratory function. Maximal oxygen uptake (VO(2)max) was calculated from a 20m shuttle run test as a measure of fitness. The ELBW group had greater problems with postural stability (p=0.001) and motor coordination (p=0.001), with 70% rated as having a definite motor problem on the MABC brackets (those who scored less than the 5(th) centile on the MABC). The ELBW was also less fit than the comparison group (p=0.001), with 45% below the 10th centile for VO(2)max. There were differences between the groups for growth, strength, and particularly respiratory function. However, respiratory function did not significantly correlate with VO(2)max in the ELBW group. Motor coordination was the most powerful predictor of VO(2)max in both the ELBW (p=0.001) and the comparison groups (p=0.001).
