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Relationships between movement quality and motor milestones in preterm infants: A longitudinal study up to 18 months

Chia-Hsuan Hsieh1, Yen-Ling Lin2, Pei-Fen Liao3

  • 1Department of Physical Therapy, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.

Early Human Development
|June 16, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Movement quality assessment, using the Infant Motor Profile (IMP), better identifies subtle motor difficulties in preterm infants than milestone attainment alone. This approach helps differentiate preterm subgroups earlier for timely intervention.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Movement Science
  • Neonatal Research

Background:

  • Motor milestone attainment is standard for preterm infant surveillance but lacks sensitivity for subtle motor delays.
  • Early identification of motor difficulties in preterm infants is crucial for effective intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the longitudinal relationship between movement quality and motor milestone attainment in preterm infants.
  • To compare early motor behaviors between moderate-to-late preterm and extremely-to-very preterm infants.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective cohort study of 90 preterm infants assessed at 8, 12, and 18 months corrected age.
  • Movement quality assessed via Infant Motor Profile (IMP); motor milestones via Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS).
  • Spearman correlations and linear regression analyzed associations and group differences.

Main Results:

  • IMP scores (except symmetry) positively correlated with AIMS scores at 8 and 18 months.
  • At 12 months, IMP adaptability and total scores negatively correlated with AIMS scores.
  • Extremely-to-very preterm infants showed significantly poorer motor quality and milestone attainment across assessments compared to moderate-to-late preterm infants.

Conclusions:

  • Movement quality assessment provides insights into motor development beyond milestone attainment.
  • This approach can differentiate preterm infant subgroups earlier, aiding in identifying subtle motor difficulties.
  • Integrating movement quality measures may enhance early detection and guide interventions for preterm infants.
Abstract

Keywords:
Gestational ageInfant motor profileMotor milestonesMovement qualityPreterm infants

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