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Preterm and writhing movements: is it possible to predict fidgety movements in preterm infants?

Journal of Perinatology volume 41, pages 2442–2448 (2021)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background

Preterm infants who do not have fidgety movements at 3 months of corrected age have up to ten times greater risk of developing cerebral palsy or other alterations in motor development, compared to infants who exhibit such movements. The General Movements Assessment (GMA) is a validated tool that may predict the fidgety movement period.

Objective

This study aimed to describe the trajectory of the General Movements Assessment (GMA) during the preterm and writhing movements periods in preterm infants and determine the best time point to predict the fidgety movements period.

Study design

Fifty-two preterm newborns were evaluated by the GMA method. Results: GMA assessment at the age of 5 weeks post term was found the most predictive of neuromotor development disorders in at-risk newborns, with a sensitivity and specificity of 86% and 58%, respectively, and a high negative predictive value (92%) and increased hit ratio (69% accuracy).

Conclusion:

Preterm infants with ≤34 weeks of gestational age have a high prevalence of poor repertoire classifications on the GMA and one single assessment with GMA near the time of NICU discharge seems to be the best time to determine infants who need to be followed more carefully, but the best time point to predict the fidgety movements period was 5 weeks post term.

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Acknowledgements

This research thanks the team of undergraduate students of the Child Performance Assessment Laboratory (Laboratório de Avaliação do Desempenho Infantil—LADIN).

Funding

This work was carried out with the support of the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), Brazil.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences and Physical and Functional Performance, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (UFJF), Hospital Regional Dr. João Penido/FHEMIG, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil

    Felipe A. Souza

  2. Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences and Physical and Functional Performance, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (UFJF), Santa Casa de Misericordia de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil

    Caroline C. L. Nogueira

  3. Hospital Regional Dr. João Penido/FHEMIG, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil

    Andrea J. Silva

  4. School of Physical Therapy and Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences and Physical and Functional Performance, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (UFJF), Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil

    Paula S. C. Chagas & Jaqueline S. Frônio

Authors
  1. Felipe A. Souza
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  2. Caroline C. L. Nogueira
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  3. Andrea J. Silva
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  4. Paula S. C. Chagas
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  5. Jaqueline S. Frônio
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Contributions

All authors have made substantial contributions to: (1) conception and design, or data collection, or literature review and review, (2) article writing or critical review for important intellectual content, and (3) final version approval to be published.

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Correspondence to Jaqueline S. Frônio.

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A. Souza, F., C. L. Nogueira, C., J. Silva, A. et al. Preterm and writhing movements: is it possible to predict fidgety movements in preterm infants?. J Perinatol 41, 2442–2448 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-021-01064-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-021-01064-z

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