Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 25, 2025
Quantified Assessment of Infant's Gross Motor Abilities Using a Multisensor Wearable
Published on: May 17, 2024
Accelerometer measures in extremely preterm and or extremely low birth weight infants and association with abnormal
L A Jardine1, R M Mausling1, D Caldararo2
1Neonatal Critical Care Unit, Mater Mothers Hospital, Raymond Terrace, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; Clinical School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia.
Insights
Quantitative accelerometers show promise for assessing general movements (GMs) in preterm infants, potentially improving upon subjective clinical evaluations. These devices may serve as a reliable screening tool for detecting abnormal GMs in this vulnerable population.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal neurology
- Developmental pediatrics
- Biomedical engineering
Background:
- General movements (GMs) assessment in preterm infants is qualitative and subjective.
- Accelerometers offer quantitative data to address limitations in GMs assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To correlate quantitative accelerometer measures with qualitative GMs assessments in preterm infants.
- To evaluate accelerometers as a potential screening tool for abnormal GMs.
Main Methods:
- A prospective observational study involving preterm infants at 28 and 32 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA).
- Tri-axial accelerometers were attached to infant extremities, with simultaneous video recording for GMs assessment.
- Forty-six quantitative motor parameters were derived from accelerometer data and compared with GMs evaluations.
Main Results:
- Abnormal GMs were observed in 55.8% of infants at 28 weeks PMA and 45.6% at 32 weeks PMA.
- Inter-rater reliability for GMs assessment was poor.
- Significant differences in quantitative motor parameters were found between infants with normal and abnormal GMs, particularly at 32 weeks PMA (19/46 parameters).
Conclusions:
- Quantitative movement measures from accelerometers correlate with GMs assessments in preterm infants.
- Accelerometers may offer a reliable screening tool for abnormal GMs, overcoming inter-rater reliability issues.
Background:
Assessment of general movements (GMs) in preterm infants is qualitative and potentially subjective. Accelerometers provide quantitative data that could overcome the problems of the GMs assessment.
Study Aims:
To determine if quantitative measures (obtained from four tri-axial accelerometers) correlate with GMs assessments performed in the preterm period at 28- or 32-weeks postmenstrual age (PMA).
Study Design:
Prospective observational study. Tri-axial accelerometers were applied to the dorsum of each hand and foot at 28- and 32-weeks PMA. Simultaneous video recordings of the babies' spontaneous movements were made to assess GMs.
Subjects:
Eligible babies were born <28-weeks PMA or had a birth weight of <1000 g. Babies were recruited before they reached 33-weeks PMA.
Outcome Measures:
GMs assessments were made offline on the video recordings. Forty-six quantitative motor parameters were calculated during the same periods of activity and compared with GMs assessments.
Results:
At 28-weeks PMA, 24/43 (55.8 %) babies had abnormal GMs. At 32-weeks PMA, 26/57 (45.6 %) had abnormal GMs. The inter-rater reliability of the GMs was poor. When comparing MDS measures between; infants with normal and those with abnormal GMs, at 28-weeks PMA, 7/46 parameters were significantly different, and at 32-weeks PMA, 19/46 parameters were significantly different.
Conclusion:
Isolated use of quantitative movement measures, obtained from four tri-axial accelerometers before hospital discharge, correlate with the GMs assessments at both 28-weeks and 32-weeks PMA. Accelerometers may provide a useful screening tool for abnormal GMs in preterm infants and could overcome issues with inter-rater reliability.
