title: General movements in early infancy predict neuromotor development at 9 to 12 years of age.
abstract: Assessment of the quality of general movements (GMs) in early infancy is a powerful instrument to predict cerebral palsy (CP). The aim of the present study is to explore the value of GM assessment in predicting minor neurological dysfunction (MND) at 9 to 12 years of age. Two groups of infants were studied prospectively: 28 low-risk full-term infants (11 females, 17 males) and 24 high-risk infants, mostly born preterm (<37 weeks; 11 females, 13 males). In each group the quality of GMs (normal or abnormal) was assessed during two developmental periods: the age at which 'writhing' GMs occur (36 weeks' postmenstrual age to 7 weeks' postterm) and the age at which 'fidgety' GMs occur (8 to 17 weeks' postterm). Eight of 24 high-risk infants were diagnosed as having CP at 4 to 9 years of age. The remaining 44 children were followed-up at 9 to 12 years. In children without CP, quality of GMs at 'fidgety age' was related to neurological condition (normal, simple MND, complex MND) at follow-up (rho=0.46, p<0.01). Abnormal GMs at 'fidgety-GM age' showed a specific relationship to the development of coordination problems (chi2=6.1, p=0.01) and fine manipulative disability (Fisher, p<0.05) at 9 to 12 years. This finding supports the notion that the quality of GMs may provide information on the integrity of complex supraspinal circuitries.
authors.affiliation: Centre of Rehabilitation, University Medical Center, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Sabina E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Groen
authors.forename: Alida C E
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: de Blécourt
authors.forename: Klaas
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Postema
authors.forename: Mijna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hadders-Algra
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills; D009068:Movement; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D047928:Premature Birth; D012307:Risk Factors