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Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
Motor development, infantile reactions and postural responses of preterm, at-risk infants
M Mandich1, C J Simons, S Ritchie
1Division of Physical Therapy, West Virginia University, Morgantown.
Insights
Motor development in preterm infants shows a progression from primitive reflexes to mature postural responses. These patterns correlate with later motor milestones, similar to term infants.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Development
- Pediatric Neurology
- Motor Control in Infants
Background:
- Preterm infants exhibit unique developmental trajectories compared to full-term infants.
- Understanding early motor behaviors is crucial for identifying developmental deviations.
- Primitive reflexes and postural responses are key indicators of neurological maturation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe motor development, infantile reactions, and postural responses in low-birthweight, preterm infants during their first year.
- To determine the relationship between these early behaviors and subsequent motor development.
- To investigate correlations between specific reflex patterns and motor milestone achievement.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study design involving 89 low-birthweight, preterm infants.
- Systematic observation and assessment of motor development, infantile reactions, and postural responses.
- Statistical analysis to identify trends and correlations between observed behaviors.
Main Results:
- A developmental trend was observed from primitive patterns (e.g., asymmetric tonic neck reflex) to mature postural reactions (e.g., Landau, righting, protective extension reflexes).
- Statistical analysis indicated a relationship between infantile patterns, automatic postural reactions, and motor development comparable to term infants, accounting for prematurity.
- Correlations were found between the integration of the tonic labyrinthine response, the asymmetric tonic neck pattern at discharge, and later motor milestone achievement.
Conclusions:
- Preterm infants demonstrate a predictable sequence of motor development involving the integration of primitive reflexes and the emergence of mature postural responses.
- The observed relationships between early motor behaviors and later milestones suggest that standard developmental assessments may be applicable to preterm infants with adjustments for prematurity.
- Further research is warranted to explore these relationships and their implications for early intervention strategies in preterm populations.
Abstract:
Eighty-nine low-birthweight, preterm infants were enrolled in a longitudinal study to describe motor development, infantile reactions and postural responses during the first chronological year of life and to determine the relationship between these behaviors. There was a clear trend from prevalence of primitive patterns, such as the asymmetric tonic neck reflex, towards a prevalence of mature postural reactions such as the Landau, righting and protective extension reflexes. Statistical analysis suggested that a relationship exists between infantile patterns, automatic postural reactions and motor development that is similar to that accepted as normal in term infant development, when allowance is made for preterm birth. Correlations were also obtained between integration of the tonic labyrinthine response and the presence of the asymmetric tonic neck pattern at the time of hospital discharge and later achievement of motor milestones. These relationships warrant further investigation.
