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Relationship between postural control and fine motor skills in preterm infants at 6 and 12 months adjusted age
Tien-Ni Wang1, Tsu-Hsin Howe, Jim Hinojosa
1School of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, 17 Syujhou Road 4F, Taipei City 100, Taiwan, Republic of China. tnwang@ntu.edu.tw
Insights
Postural control and fine motor skills are linked in preterm infants. Early intervention for postural delays may improve fine motor development, supporting proximal-distal development theories.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Development
- Pediatric Motor Control
- Infant Rehabilitation
Background:
- Preterm infants often exhibit motor delays.
- Understanding the relationship between postural control and fine motor skills is crucial for early intervention.
- The proximal-distal development theory guides pediatric occupational therapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between postural control and fine motor skills in preterm infants.
- To determine if this relationship differs in infants with delayed postural control.
- To examine the applicability of the proximal-distal development theory in this population.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 105 preterm infant records from a follow-up clinic.
- Utilized the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) for postural control assessment.
- Employed the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales II (PDMS-2) for fine motor skills evaluation.
Main Results:
- A significant relationship was found between postural control development and fine motor skill development.
- This association was particularly evident in preterm infants experiencing delayed postural control.
- Findings support the proximal-distal development model.
Conclusions:
- Postural control is a significant predictor of fine motor skill development in preterm infants.
- Targeted interventions for postural control may enhance fine motor outcomes.
- This study reinforces the importance of the proximal-distal development framework in pediatric occupational therapy.
Abstract:
We examined the relationship between postural control and fine motor skills of preterm infants at 6 and 12 mo adjusted age. The Alberta Infant Motor Scale was used to measure postural control, and the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales II was used to measure fine motor skills. The data analyzed were taken from 105 medical records from a preterm infant follow-up clinic at an urban academic medical center in south Taiwan. Using multiple regression analyses, we found that the development of postural control is related to the development of fine motor skills, especially in the group of preterm infants with delayed postural control. This finding supports the theoretical assumption of proximal-distal development used by many occupational therapists to guide intervention. Further research is suggested to corroborate findings.
