Early motor repertoire in very low birth weight infants in India is associated with motor development at one year

Abstract

Background: Most studies on Prechtl's method of assessing General Movements (GMA) in young infants originate in Europe.

Aim: To determine if motor behavior at an age of 3 months post term is associated with motor development at 12 months post age in VLBW infants in India.

Methods: 243 VLBW infants (135 boys, 108 girls; median gestational age 31wks, range 26-39wks) were video-recorded at a median age of 11wks post term (range 9-16wks). Certified and experienced observers assessed the videos by the "Assessment of Motor Repertoire - 2-5 Months". Fidgety movements (FMs) were classified as abnormal if absent, sporadic or exaggerated, and as normal if intermittently or continually present. The motor behaviour was evaluated by repertoire of co-existent other movements (age-adequacy) and concurrent motor repertoire. In addition, videos of 215 infants were analyzed by computer and the variability of the spatial center of motion (C_SD) was calculated. The Peabody Developmental Motor Scales was used to assess motor development at 12 months.

Results: Abnormal FMs, reduced age adequacy, and an abnormal concurrent motor repertoire were significantly associated with lower Gross Motor and Total Motor Quotient (GMQ, TMQ) scores (p < 0.05). The C_SD was higher in children with TMQ scores <90 (-1SD) than in children with higher TMQ scores (p = 0.002).

Conclusion: Normal FMs (assessed by Gestalt perception) and a low variability of the spatial center of motion (assessed by computer-based video analysis) predicted higher Peabody scores in 12-month-old infants born in India with a very low birth weight.

Keywords: Computer-based assessment; Fidgety movements; General movements; Movement recognition; Neurodevelopmental assessment.