title: Motor development and sensory processing: A comparative study between preterm and term infants.
abstract: Infants born preterm and/or with low birth weight may present a clinical condition of organic instability and usually face a long period of hospitalization in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units, being exposed to biopsychosocial risk factors to their development due to decreased spontaneous movement and excessive sensory stimuli. This study assumes that there are relationships between the integration of sensory information of preterm infants, motor development and their subsequent effects.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the sensory processing and motor development in preterm infants aged 4-6 months and compare performance data with their peers born at term.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional and comparative study consisting of a group of preterm infants (n=15) and a group of term infants (n=15), assessed using the Test of Sensory Functions in Infants (TSFI) and the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed no significant association between motor performance on the AIMS scale (total score) and sensory processing in the TSFI (total score). However, all infants who scored abnormal in the total TSFI score, subdomain 1, and subdomain 5 presented motor performance at or below the 5th percentile on the AIMS scale.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Since all infants who presented definite alteration in tolerating tactile deep pressure and poor postural control are at risk of delayed gross motor development, there may be peculiarities not detected by the tests used that seem to establish some relationship between sensory processing and motor development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Federal University of São Carlos, Rodovia Washington Luís, km 235, São Carlos, SP CEP 13565-905, Brazil. Electronic address: thaiscabral.thais@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Thais Invenção
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Cabral
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Federal University of São Carlos, Rodovia Washington Luís, km 235, São Carlos, SP CEP 13565-905, Brazil.
authors.forename: Louise Gracelli
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Pereira da Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Federal University of São Carlos, Rodovia Washington Luís, km 235, São Carlos, SP CEP 13565-905, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eloisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tudella
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Therapy, Federal University of São Carlos, Rodovia Washington Luís, km 235, São Carlos, SP CEP 13565-905, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cláudia Maria
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Simões Martinez
keywords: At-risk infant; Development; Preterm birth; Sensory processing