Comparison of motor development of preterm and full term infants

Abstract

[Purpose] This study compared the motor development characteristics of preterm and full term infants, for utilization basic material for the mediation of the early physiotherapy of high-risk infants. [Subjects and Methods] The subjects were preterm and full-term infants who were hospitalized at the nursery of Busan M Hospital from March 30th, 2010 to December 31st, 2010. The group of mature infants (male: 8; female: 9; postconceptional age: 39.24 weeks) and premature infants (male: 10; female: 7; postconceptional age: 40 weeks) were measured for movement and posture using the Test of Infant Motor Performance (ver. 5.0) and the assessment was performed at the postconceptional age of 40 weeks (mean age: 39.75 weeks). [Results] In some items of the observed scale and elicited items, the mature group exhibited better motor development than the premature group. Also, in the overall score of the observed scale, the performance of the premature group was below that of the mature group. [Conclusion] Even healthy premature infants with no neurological issues show reduced levels of development compared to mature infants.