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Motor Development Interventions for Preterm Infants: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Anita J Hughes1, Sarah A Redsell2, Cris Glazebrook3
1School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom; and anita.hughes@nottingham.ac.uk.
Pediatrics
|September 18, 2016
Summary
Interventions improve motor skills in preterm infants up to 24 months corrected age. Motor-specific activities show the most significant benefits at 3 months.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal development
- Pediatric neurology
- Rehabilitation medicine
Background:
- Preterm infants face heightened risks of neurodevelopmental delays.
- Existing research suggests positive intervention effects on motor outcomes, but optimal strategies remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify interventions that enhance motor development in preterm infants.
- To determine the short-term and long-term effectiveness of various motor interventions.
Main Methods:
- A systematic review and meta-analysis of 36 trials (3484 infants) published from 1980 to 2015.
- Searched 17 electronic databases and gray literature.
- Analyzed motor skills assessment scores using standardized mean differences.
Main Results:
- Positive intervention effects on motor skills were observed up to 24 months corrected age.
- Motor-specific interventions demonstrated a large, significant effect at 3 months (mean 2.00).
- Heterogeneity was significant, necessitating a random-effects model.
Conclusions:
- Interventions positively impact preterm infants' motor skills up to 24 months corrected age.
- Early, motor-specific interventions appear most effective.
- Further research is needed to address data limitations beyond 24 months.
