Motor performance, postural stability and behaviour of non-disabled extremely preterm or extremely low birth weight children at four to five years of age

Abstract

Background: Extremely preterm or extremely low birth weight (ELBW) children who are non-disabled and otherwise healthy are at risk of neurodevelopmental impairments. Further understanding of these impairments is needed before commencement of formal education to optimise participation levels at a critical time point for these children.

Aims: To explore motor co-ordination, postural stability, limb strength and behaviour of non-disabled four to five year old children with a history of extreme prematurity or ELBW.

Study design: Prospective-descriptive-cohort-study.

Subjects: 50 children born at less than 28 weeks gestation or who had a birth weight less than 1000g with minimal/mild motor impairments and no significant neurological/cognitive impairments.

Outcome measures: Movement Assessment Battery for Children second-edition (MABC-2), single leg stance test (SLS), lateral reach test, standing long jump test and Child Behaviour Checklist for preschool children (CBCL).

Results: The mean percentile rank of the extremely preterm or ELBW sample on MABC-2 was 31% (SD 23%). SLS right (mean ± SD; 4.6 ± 2.5s) and lateral reach to the right (10.0 ± 3.9 cm) were slightly stronger than SLS left (4.4 ± 3.3s) and lateral reach left (9.9 ± 3.5 cm). The average for standing long jump was 71.6 cm (SD 21.0 cm). All participants were classified as 'normal' on CBCL syndrome scale scores, internalizing and externalizing syndrome T scores and total problem T score.

Conclusions: This sample of non-disabled extremely preterm or ELBW children performed in the lower range of normal. These children continue to be at risk of impairments, therefore, ongoing monitoring and tailored intervention may optimise development.

Keywords: Children; Motor; Neurodevelopment; Preterm.