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Motor development of preterm infants assessed by the Alberta Infant Motor Scale: systematic review article
Rubia do N Fuentefria1, Rita C Silveira1, Renato S Procianoy1
1Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde da Criança e do Adolescente, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Insights
Preterm infants often experience motor development deficits. The Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) effectively identifies atypical gross motor development in these at-risk newborns during early life follow-up.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal development
- Pediatric motor assessment
Background:
- Premature newborns face heightened risks for motor development deficits.
- Early life monitoring is crucial for identifying potential developmental issues in preterm infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review literature on the gross motor development of preterm infants.
- To identify key developmental outcomes using the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS).
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of studies published between 2006-2015.
- Searches conducted in Pubmed, Scielo, Lilacs, and Medline databases.
- Keywords included: Alberta Infant Motor Scale, prematurity, preterm, motor development, postural control, follow-up.
Main Results:
- 101 articles identified, 23 selected for review.
- Motor delay percentages varied from 4% to 53% based on assessment age.
- Preterm infants demonstrated significantly lower gross motor scores on the AIMS compared to full-term infants.
Conclusions:
- Follow-up services must include gross motor development assessment for preterm infants.
- The Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) is a valuable tool for identifying atypical motor development in this population.
Objective:
Premature newborns are considered at risk for motor development deficits, leading to the need for monitoring in early life. The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature about gross motor development of preterm infants, assessed by the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) to identify the main outcomes in development.
Data Source:
Systematic review of studies published from 2006 to 2015, indexed in Pubmed, Scielo, Lilacs, and Medline databases in English and Portuguese. The search strategy included the keywords: Alberta Infant Motor Scale, prematurity, preterm, motor development, postural control, and follow-up.
Data Summary:
A total of 101 articles were identified and 23 were selected, according to the inclusion criteria. The ages of the children assessed in the studies varied, including the first 6 months up to 15 or 18 months of corrected age. The percentage variation in motor delay was identified in the motor outcome descriptions of ten studies, ranging from 4% to 53%, depending on the age when the infant was assessed. The studies show significant differences in the motor development of preterm and full-term infants, with a description of lower gross scores in the AIMS results of preterm infants.
Conclusions:
It is essential that the follow-up services of at-risk infants have assessment strategies and monitoring of gross motor development of preterm infants; AIMS is an assessment tool indicated to identify atypical motor development in this population.
