Motor development of children born preterm and fullterm

The purpose of this study was to investigate the motor skills levels of children ages 3.5 to 7 years born in the Preterm I (PT I, birthweight ≤1000 g and gestational age 24–28 weeks, n = 6), Preterm II (PT II, birthweight 1001–1500 g and gestational age 29–34 weeks, n = 6), and Fullterm (FT, birthweight 2300–3800 g and gestational age 38–41 weeks, n = 10) groups using the McCarron Assessment of Neuromuscular Development and Motor Performance Study instruments. Heights, weights, body mass indexes, and neurological soft signs were compared among the three groups. The study described the relationships between the motor skills scores and the potential influences on the motor skills scores, such as the physical growth of the children, heights of the parent(s), ABILITIES Index, and use of adjusted age. The criteria for children born in the PT groups were: being a singleton; having no moderate-to-severe neurological impairments present; and having received treatments of a full course of antenatal steroids and surfactants.; Statistical analyses included one-way ANOVAs and ANCOVAs (with chronological age as the covariate), as well as Pearson product-moment, partial, and semipartial correlations. When a significant difference was detected with ANOVA (ANCOVA), then the Scheffé (Pairwise comparisons) test was used for follow-up analysis and effect sizes were calculated to find out the meaningfulness of the significance. The investigator gave descriptive data for neurological soft signs.; Significant differences as well as large effect sizes showed the strength of a relationship among the three groups for the gross and fine motor skills. When using chronological age, physical growth (including height, weight, and BMI) was significantly different among the three birthtypes as well. The children who were born in the PT groups were more likely to show neurological soft signs, such as extraneous movements, perseveration, falling after performance, and asymmetry, than the children who were born in the FT group. The heights and ABILITIES Indexes were moderately correlated to the motor skills scores. Data suggested that participating in regular physical activities may improve skills levels of children born preterm. However, this study used a small number of participants. Future studies need to acquire more participants, as well as consider using a longitudinal design, and developing intervention programs for the children who were born preterm.