Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 25, 2025
Preterm EEG: A Multimodal Neurophysiological Protocol
Published on: February 18, 2012
Early Spontaneous Movements and Sensory Processing in Preterm Infants
Bilge Nur Yardımcı-Lokmanoğlu1, Ayşe Livanelioğlu2, Doğan Porsnok3
1Bilge Nur Yardımcı-Lokmanoğlu, PhD, PT, is Assistant Professor, Developmental and Early Physiotherapy Unit, Faculty of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey; bilgenuryardimci@hacettepe.edu.tr.
Insights
Preterm infants born before 32 weeks gestation show higher risks for motor and sensory issues. Early assessment of movement and sensory processing is vital for timely intervention in these vulnerable infants.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Development
- Pediatric Neurology
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Preterm infants face elevated risks for motor and sensory processing challenges.
- Limited research exists on early movement and sensory development in preterm infants, with conflicting findings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare early spontaneous movements and sensory processing in preterm infants based on gestational age (<32 weeks vs. 32-36 weeks).
- To examine the relationship between early movements and sensory processing in preterm infants.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study involving 111 preterm infants (50 <32 weeks, 61 32-36 weeks gestation).
- Utilized the General Movements Assessment (GMA) for motor assessment (Motor Optimality Score - MOS).
- Employed the Infant Sensory Profile-2 to evaluate sensory processing.
Main Results:
- Infants born <32 weeks gestation exhibited lower MOS scores (p=.035) and increased sensory processing difficulties (p=.006) compared to those born 32-36 weeks.
- No significant correlation was found between early spontaneous movements and sensory processing (p>.05).
Conclusions:
- Preterm infants born before 32 weeks gestation are at a higher risk for motor abnormalities and sensory processing deficits.
- Simultaneous assessment of motor development and sensory processing aids in identifying infants requiring early intervention.
Importance:
Preterm infants are at higher risk of motor development abnormalities and sensory processing difficulties. Few studies have examined both movement development and sensory processing in the early months of life, and the results are controversial.
Objective:
In this cross-sectional study, we investigated (1) differences in early spontaneous movements and sensory processing between preterm infants born at <32 wk gestation and those born at 32 to 36 wk gestation when they reached corrected (postterm) age 3 to 5 mo and (2) the relationship between early spontaneous movements and sensory processing.
Participants:
We included 50 preterm infants born at <32 wk gestation and 61 preterm infants born at 32 to 36 wk gestation.
Outcomes And Measures:
We assessed early spontaneous movements, including fidgety movements, using the General Movements Assessment (GMA), which provides the Motor Optimality Score (MOS), and sensory processing using the Infant Sensory Profile-2.
Results:
The preterm infants born at <32 wk gestation had lower MOS results (p = .035) and more sensory processing difficulties (p = .006) than those born at 32 to 36 wk gestation. We found no significant relationship between early spontaneous movements and sensory processing (p > .05).
Conclusions And Relevance:
Preterm infants born at <32 wk gestation are at increased risk for motor development abnormalities and sensory processing difficulties. What This Article Adds: Assessment of both motor development and sensory processing can play a crucial role in identifying infants who need early intervention.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Major Somatic Sensory Pathways
01:22Somatic Spinal Reflexes
One of the most well-known somatic spinal reflexes is the stretch reflex, which is activated by the sudden stretching of a muscle. This reflex involves the activation of specialized sensory receptors called muscle spindles, which are located in the muscle tissue and detect changes in the length and speed of muscle contractions. When a muscle is suddenly...