Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 4, 2026
Quantified Assessment of Infant's Gross Motor Abilities Using a Multisensor Wearable
Published on: May 17, 2024
Assessing gross motor development of Brazilian infants
Ana Paula Bensemann Gontijo1, Lívia de Castro Magalhães, Miriam Queiroz Faria Guerra
1Department of Physical Therapy (Dr Gontijo), Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Department of Occupational Therapy (Dr Magalhães), Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Department of Occupational Therapy (Ms Guerra), Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil.
Insights
The Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) needs specific reference values for Brazilian infants, as differences were found in percentile curves compared to Canadian data. These new Brazilian curves are recommended for use in Brazil.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Motor Development
Background:
- The Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) is a widely used tool for assessing infant motor development.
- Existing AIMS reference values are primarily based on Canadian populations.
- The applicability of these international norms to diverse populations, such as Brazilian infants, requires investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) requires specific reference values for Brazilian infants.
- To compare AIMS scores and percentile curves of Brazilian infants with established Canadian reference values.
Main Methods:
- A total of 660 healthy, full-term infants (330 girls) from Belo Horizonte, Brazil, were assessed using the AIMS.
- Infant motor scale scores and percentile curves were generated and compared against existing Canadian reference values.
- Analysis considered potential influences of sex, economic classification, and Human Development Index.
Main Results:
- Significant differences were observed in the 5th percentile curves for infants aged 9-<10 and 10-<11 months.
- Differences were also noted in the 10th percentile curves for infants aged 4-<5, 9-<10, and 10-<11 months.
- No significant variations in AIMS scores were found based on sex, economic classification, or Human Development Index.
Conclusions:
- The study recommends utilizing the newly established Brazilian infant data curves for future research conducted within Brazil.
- Deviations in the 5th and 10th percentile curves necessitate the use of Brazil-specific AIMS reference values.
- Given the demographic similarities, these findings are likely applicable to clinicians across Brazil.
Purpose:
To determine whether the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) requires reference values specific for Brazilian infants.
Methods:
A total of 660 (330 girls) healthy full-term infants from Belo Horizonte were assessed using the AIMS. Scores and percentile curves were compared with the Canadian reference values.
Results And Discussion:
Differences were found in the 5th percentile (9-<10 and 10-<11 months) and the 10th percentile (4-<5, 9-<10, and 10-<11 months) curves. No significant differences were found between sexes on the basis of the economic classification or the criteria of the Human Development Index.
Conclusion:
Primarily because of the corrections made to the 5th and 10th percentile curves, we recommend the use of the Brazilian infant data curves reported here for further studies conducted in Brazil. Because the Human Development Index of Belo Horizonte is similar to that for Brazil as a whole, the results of this study should be relevant for clinicians throughout Brazil.
