Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 10, 2025
Quantified Assessment of Infant's Gross Motor Abilities Using a Multisensor Wearable
Published on: May 17, 2024
Investigation and influence analysis of motor development in preterm infants
1Department of Children's Health, Pingxiang Maternity and Child Care Pingxiang 337000, Jiangxi, China.
Insights
Early motor development in preterm infants is often good, with factors like higher birth weight and female sex being protective. Multiple pregnancies increase the risk of motor delays, highlighting the need for early intervention.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal development
- Pediatric neurology
- Developmental pediatrics
Background:
- Preterm infants face increased risks for developmental delays compared to full-term infants.
- Early identification and intervention are crucial for optimizing motor outcomes in vulnerable populations.
- Understanding factors influencing motor development in preterm infants informs targeted support strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess early motor development in preterm infants.
- To identify factors associated with motor development delay in this population.
- To provide evidence supporting early motor intervention programs.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of clinical data from 80 preterm infants.
- Gross motor development assessed using the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) at corrected age.
- Logistic regression analysis to determine factors influencing motor development.
Main Results:
- 78.75% of preterm infants showed normal motor development (AIMS > P25).
- Height, weight, head circumference at 1 month corrected age, and female sex were protective factors against motor delay.
- Multiple pregnancy was identified as a significant risk factor for motor retardation.
Conclusions:
- Early motor development in preterm infants is generally positive, but vigilance is required.
- Specific anthropometric measures and sex are key indicators for motor development.
- Targeted interventions for preterm infants, especially males with slow weight gain and those from multiple pregnancies, are recommended.
Objective:
To study early motor development in preterm infants, analyze related factors causing motor development delay, and provide evidence for early motor intervention.
Methods:
In this retrospective analysis, the clinical data of 80 preterm infants who were registered in Pingxiang Maternity and Child Care from January 2021 to December 2021 were analyzed. Preterm infants' ages were corrected for month of age and their gross motor development was assessed by the AIMS motor scale. AIMS exercise scale was used to correct the motor development of 1-month-old premature infants. The preterm infants were divided into a normal motor development group (n = 63) and an abnormal motor development group (n = 17) according to their motor development. Sixty-three full-term infants with normal motor development registered in the hospital during the same period were selected as a control group to observe the differences between preterm infants with normal motor development and full-term infants. Logistic regression was used to analyze the factors influencing gross motor retardation in preterm infants.
Results:
Among the 80 preterm infants, sixty-three (78.75%) had Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) > P25, indicating normal motor development; seventeen patients (21.25%) had AIMS score ≤ P25, suspected as motor retardation. There were significant differences in birth weight and gestational age between preterm infants and full-term infants after 1 month of correction (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that height at the corrected age of 1 month, weight at the corrected age of 1 month, head circumference at the corrected age of 1 month, and female sex were protective factors for motor retardation. Multiple pregnancy was a risk factor for motor retardation in preterm infants.
Conclusion:
The early motor development status of preterm infants is generally good. The height, weight, and head circumeferance at the corrected age of 1 month, and female sex were protective factors for motor development delay in preterm infants. Multiple pregnancy was a risk factor. Attention should be paid to premature boys with slow weight gain, and early detection and intervention for motor retardation in preterm infants should be given.
