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Updated: Jun 18, 2025
Quantified Assessment of Infant's Gross Motor Abilities Using a Multisensor Wearable
Published on: May 17, 2024
A systematic review and meta-analysis of the associations between motor milestone timing and motor development in
Aislinn Bowler1, Tomoki Arichi2, Chloe Austerberry3
1Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck, University of London, London, UK; Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK.
Insights
Early motor skill delays are significant indicators for neurodevelopmental conditions. This review found delayed gross motor milestones and impaired motor skills in infants diagnosed with autism, ADHD, and other developmental disorders.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Pediatric Neurology
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Early motor skills are potential early markers for neurodevelopmental conditions.
- Understanding motor development in infancy can predict later onset of disorders.
Conclusions:
- Delayed milestone attainment and motor impairments are evident in early childhood for neurodevelopmental conditions.
- Early motor skill assessment can aid in identifying infants at risk for neurodevelopmental disorders.
- These findings highlight the critical role of motor development in early neurodevelopmental screening.
Abstract:
Early motor skills may be important early markers of neurodevelopmental conditions or predictors of their later onset. To explore this, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of infant motor skill assessments in those who go on to gain a clinical diagnosis of autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), schizophrenia, language conditions, tic disorders, or developmental coordination disorder (DCD). In total, 63 articles met inclusion criteria. Three three-level meta-analyses were run. Meta-analysis of milestone achievement in N= 21205 individuals revealed gross motor milestones were significantly delayed compared to controls (g= 0.53, p< 0.001). Subgroup analyses revealed autism (g= 0.63) and DCD (g= 0.53) had the highest magnitude delays. Specific delays were revealed for holding the head up (g= 0.21), sitting (g= 0.28), standing (g= 0.35), crawling (g= 0.19), and walking (g= 0.71). Meta-analyses of standardised motor skill measurements in N= 1976 individuals revealed reduced performance compared to controls in autism and language conditions (g= -0.54, p< 0.001). Together, these findings demonstrate delayed milestone attainment and motor impairments in early childhood in neurodevelopmental conditions.
