Comparison of active motor items in infants born preterm and infants born full term.
OBJECTIVE
The study was designed to compare active motor items at term age of infants born very preterm, very low birth weight (VPT-VLBW) and without impairments with infants born full-term (FT) and healthy and to evaluate a method of assessment using video recordings and computer software.


METHODS
Video recordings of head lag and head righting on pull to sit, head control in sitting, and hip flexion in prone were obtained at term age for 29 infants born VPT-VLBW and 22 infants born FT. Motor items were analyzed using digitizing computer software.


RESULTS
Infants born VPT-VLBW had less head lag on pull to sit than infants born FT, p = 0.005. No other differences were found for the remaining motor items. The method of assessment demonstrated high intrarater reliability (intraclass coefficient correlation (3,1) = 0.77-0.997).


CONCLUSIONS
Infants born VPT-VLBW who are at "low risk" performed at term age similarly to healthy infants born FT on four active motor items. The reliability of the measurement method supports the method's further development.
Cameron
Emma C
EC
Department of Physiotherapy, School of Health Services, Robert Gordon University. john1camercon@hotmail.com
Maehle
Valerie
V
D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000502:physiology*; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000502:physiology*; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology; D026201:Musculoskeletal Manipulations; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome