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Differences in walking attainment ages between low-risk preterm and healthy full-term infants
Ana P Restiffe1, José Luiz D Gherpelli
1Department of Neurology, Medical School, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. aprestiffe@sgl.com.br
Insights
Preterm infants
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Neonatology
Background:
- Gross motor development is a key indicator of infant health.
- Preterm infants may face unique developmental trajectories compared to full-term infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare gross motor development and walking age between preterm (PT) and full-term (FT) infants.
- To identify neonatal variables affecting walking age in preterm infants.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study involving monthly assessments using the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS).
- Comparison of 101 preterm infants and 52 full-term infants until all AIMS items were observed.
Main Results:
- Gross motor development showed similarity between PT and FT infants, with notable differences between 8-10 months.
- Full-term infants achieved walking earlier than preterm infants.
- Birth weight, birth length, and neonatal nursery stay duration were associated with delayed walking in preterm infants.
Conclusions:
- Gross motor development is largely similar between preterm and full-term infants, with specific age-related divergences.
- Preterm infants generally walk later than full-term infants.
- Birth weight, birth length, and neonatal intensive unit stay are significant predictors of walking delay in preterm infants.
Objective:
To compare gross motor development of preterm infants (PT) without cerebral palsy with healthy full-term (FT) infants, according to Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS); to compare the age of walking between PT and FT; and whether the age of walking in PT is affected by neonatal variables.
Methods:
Prospective study compared monthly 101 PT and 52 FT, from the first visit, until all AIMS items had been observed.
Results:
Mean scores were similarity in their progression, except from the eighth to tenth months. FT infants were faster in walking attainment than PT. Birth weight and length and duration of neonatal nursery stay were related to walking delay.
Conclusion:
Gross motor development between PT and FT were similar, except from the eighth to tenth months of age. PT walked later than FT infants and predictive variables were birth weight and length, and duration of neonatal intensive unit stay.
