Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 20, 2026
Transcutaneous Microcirculatory Imaging in Preterm Neonates
Published on: December 31, 2015
Motor performance of Indian preterm infants as compared to the US population on the Test of Infant Motor Performance
Diana Rodrigues1, Kirti Joshi1, Sayli Rajadhyaksha2
1M.S. Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, M. S. Ramaiah College of Physiotherapy, Bangalore, India.
Insights
Indian preterm infants scored lower on the Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP) compared to US infants. These findings suggest caution when using US-based scores to assess motor development in Indian preterm infants.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neonatology
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Preterm birth is a significant global health concern, impacting infant development.
- Standardized assessments are crucial for monitoring motor development in preterm infants.
- The Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP) is a widely used tool for evaluating early motor skills.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the motor performance of Indian preterm infants at three months corrected age using the TIMP.
- To compare the TIMP scores of Indian preterm infants with established age-based population scores from the United States.
Main Methods:
- Ethical approval was obtained prior to the study.
- Fifty-three infants meeting inclusion criteria had parental consent, with 47 ultimately recruited.
- The Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP) was administered at three months corrected age.
Main Results:
- Data from 47 preterm infants (33 male, 14 female) with a mean gestational age of 34.4 weeks and birth weight of 1.93 kg were analyzed.
- Indian preterm infants scored an average of 98.17 (±20.90) on the TIMP, compared to the US mean of 108 (±19).
- The study indicated an under-performance in motor skills among the Indian preterm infant cohort compared to US norms.
Conclusions:
- Indian preterm infants demonstrated lower motor performance scores than their US counterparts at three months corrected age.
- The observed difference in raw scores suggests that US-based population scores may not be appropriate for categorizing the motor development of Indian preterm infants.
- Further research is needed to establish culturally relevant benchmarks for assessing motor development in this population.
Purpose:
The study aimed at scoring Indian preterm infants at three months corrected age on the TIMP and then comparing the scores to the United States age-based population scores.
Methods:
After obtaining Ethical clearance, participants meeting the inclusion criteria of 53 infants whose parents consented were screened and recruited (N = 47) at a tertiary care hospital. The TIMP was then administered at three months of corrected age.
Results:
Data obtained from 47 infants born preterm (Male = 33, Female = 14) at three months corrected age with mean gestational age (34.4 ± 2.36 weeks) and mean birth weight (1.93 ± 0.55 kgs) was analyzed. Indian infants born preterm scored a mean of (98.17 ± 20.90) compared to the US mean of (108 ± 19), suggesting an under-performance. The average scores were lower when comparing the mean of the study group with the US-based age-matched population.
Conclusion:
Motor performance scores of Indian preterm infants were low when compared to their US counterparts. Since there exists a difference in the raw score obtained by Indian Preterm infants compared to the US-based population, it may not be appropriate to categorize the motor development of Indian infants based on the US population scores.
