Assessment Of Motor Development Research Articles

Supporting Infants' Motor Development through Water Activities: A Preliminary Case-Control Study.

The first twelve months of an infant's life are the most dynamic time in the development of motor activities. Water activities can positively stimulate the motor skills, visual perception, and cognitive abilities of infants. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the motor development of infants aged 3-12 months participating in water activities. Participants in the study included 43 infants aged 3-12 months who attended water activities classes at Warsaw City swimming pools (n = 21) and infants not attending any classes (n = 22). Two methods of assessing motor development were used in the study: the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) and the Early Motor Development Questionnaire (EMQ). The raw scores of the AIMS test and the EMQ questionnaire were statistically significantly different (p < 0.05) in both groups between the first and second examinations. In contrast, there was a statistically significant improvement in motor development measured by AIMS and expressed in percentiles (p = 0.002) and in percentiles for Polish children (p = 0.030) in the water group. The age-independent total score of the EMQ before and after the intervention did not change significantly (p = 0.149). The water environment has the potential to support the motor development of infants aged 3-12 months.

The Targeted Motor Control Screening Tool Is Valid for 4-Year-Old Children.

The objective was to determine the validity of the Targeted Motor Control (TMC) screening tool with the Neurosensory Motor Developmental Assessment (NSMDA) in 4-year-old children. In this single cohort observational study, children (3years 9months to 4years 5months) completed the TMC and the NSMDA in a randomized order 5 to 14days apart. Seventy-six children (mean age = 4years 2months; standard deviation = 2.5months; n = 35 male) completed both assessments. Forty-two children performed within the normal range on the NSMDA. There were significant and positive moderate correlations between the item totals overall and for each area on the NSMDA and the TMC (r = 0.40-0.61), and between the NSMDA functional grade for each area and the corresponding TMC areas (r = 0.47-0.67). However, the correlation between the NSMDA sensorimotor functional grade and the TMC sensory score was significant but low and positive (r = 0.35). The optimal cut-off score for detecting children at risk of atypical development on the TMC was a score of <9 (n = 42) (sensitivity = 82.4%; specificity = 66.7%), with a positive likelihood ratio of 2.47 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.57-3.89) and a negative likelihood ratio of 0.26 (95% CI = 0.12-0.56). The TMC is a valid screening tool to identify 4-year-old children at risk of motor delay. Early identification of developmental concerns using a validated screening tool is recommended. The TMC is a valid performance-based screening tool that can be used to identify children at risk of atypical motor development who would benefit from further developmental assessment so that, if indicated, timely intervention can be implemented.

Sensitivity and specificity of the Neonatal Visual Assessment to predict motor and cognitive outcomes in infants born very preterm

BackgroundVery preterm infants are at increased risk of neurodevelopmental impairments. The Neonatal Visual Assessment (NVA) assesses visual function and outcomes and has been used to assess early neurodevelopmental outcomes. This study aimed to compare NVA results of very preterm and term-born infants and to calculate the sensitivity and specificity of the NVA at term equivalent age (TEA) and three months corrected age (CA) to predict motor and cognitive outcomes at 12 months CA in very preterm infants. MethodsThis prospective observational cohort study recruited infants born before 31 weeks gestation and a healthy term-born control group. The NVA was assessed at TEA and three months CA, and neurodevelopmental outcomes (Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition; Neurosensory Motor Developmental Assessment; Alberta Infant Motor Scale) were performed at 12 months CA. The sensitivity and specificity of the NVA to predict outcomes were calculated based on a previously published optimality score. Results248 preterm (54 % male) and 46 term-born infants (48 % male) were analysed. The mean NVA scores of preterm and term-born infants were significantly different at TEA (preterm 3.1±2.1; term-born 1.2±1.7, p < 0.001). The NVA had moderate sensitivity (59–78 %) and low specificity (25–27 %) at TEA, and low sensitivity (21–28 %) and high specificity (86–87 %) at three months CA for the prediction of preterm infants' outcomes at 12 months CA. ConclusionThe NVA at TEA and three months CA was not a strong predictor of motor and cognitive impairments in this contemporary cohort of very preterm infants.

Stages of motor development in children with cyanotic congenital heart defects after surgical treatment

Background. The article deals with the actual problem of pediatric neurology, pediatric cardiology, and pediatric cardiac surgery, in particular, the peculiarities of neurodevelopment in children with congenital heart defects (CHD). The purpose is to conduct a study of stages of stato-motor development (SMD) in patients with cyanotic congenital heart defects after surgical treatment and to determine the influence of pathogenic factors on neurodevelopmental delay. Materials and methods. Thirty-five patients with cyanotic CHD underwent examination and surgical treatment at the Center for Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine: 20 children — with transposition of the great vessels (TGV) and 15 children — with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). The control group consisted of 35 healthy patients whose motor development corresponded to their age. Gestational age, body weight at birth, Apgar score, saturation, and duration of artificial blood circulation during surgical treatment for CHD were considered. Assessment of motor development was carried out with the help of the following scales: Munich Functional Developmental Diagnosis (G.J. Köhler, H.D. Egelkraut) and section 2 of the Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination. Data were processed using the software Microsoft Excel version 16.0.12527.21236. Results. The gestational age of the studied group of patients with cyanotic CHD was 38 weeks, body weight — 3,500 g, which corresponded to the control group. Patients of the first subgroup with TGV were diagnosed with lower saturation indicators (р = 0.0001), a lower 1-minute Apgar score (p = 0.028) and a longer duration of artificial blood circulation — 146.00 ± 29.03 (р = 0.043) compared to the second subgroup with TOF. SMD delay was diagnosed in 29 % of cases, namely 12 % with TGV and 17 % with TOF. The average period of sitting with delayed SMD was 8.4 ± 2.2 months (p = 0.002), walking — 18.4 ± 6.3 months (p = 0.0001). Subsequently, children with TGV continue to develop without a significant delay compared to the TOF subgroup. Conclusions. 1. Patients with cyanotic CHD are born at 38 weeks of gestation, with sufficient body weight without a significant difference depending on the type of CHD and compared to the control group of healthy children. The predominance of the male gender is typical in cyanotic CHD. However, children with transposition of the great vessels are characterized by a lower 1-minute Apgar score and lower indicators of saturation at birth compared to those with tetralogy of Fallot. 2. Based on the conducted study, a delay of SMD was found in 29 % of patients with cyanotic CHD, namely 17 % with TOF and 12 % with TGV. The average duration of sitting with delay was 8.4 ± 2.2 months and walking was 18.4 ± 6.3 months. 3. Surgical treatment was carried out according to the detected indications, for transposition of the great vessels on the first day and for tetralogy of Fallot at 8 months of life. No pathogenic influence of the duration of artificial blood circulation and aortic clamping during cardiosurgical treatment on SMD in children was found. An increase in the duration of artificial blood circulation was noted during arterial switch operation in children with TGV, but no significant difference was found in children with SMD delay. 4. Timely early surgical treatment of critical CHD — TGV on the first day after birth, a developed route for pregnant women, techniques of performing operations — ensure a better SMD of this subgroup in the future. In patients with TOF, taking into account the long period of hypoxia before the start of surgical correction, neuropsychiatric disorders of varying degrees are more often noted. The development of an individual rehabilitation program is provided for this category of children.

A remote parent-led early intervention protocol to promote motor development in infants with congenital heart disease: a feasibility pilot study of a randomized clinical trial

ABSTRACT This study evaluated the feasibility of a parent-led, home-based early intervention for motor development in infants with Congenital Heart Disease (CHD), part of a larger multicenter, single-blind randomized controlled trial (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05907109). Parents, supported by remote specialists weekly, engaged in multidomain stimulation activities five days a week, for six months. Feasibility was assessed via parental questionnaires, adherence rates, and infant motor development assessments. Despite high dropout and mortality rates, results showed 80% adherence, 91% parental satisfaction, 75% availability, and 60% self-efficacy. No significant motor skill differences were noted between the intervention (IG; n = 19) and control groups (CG; n = 11) at six months, but the higher baseline risk in IG suggests promotion of motor skills in the intervention group. Future studies in Brazil might extend the study duration to address high dropout and mortality rates.

Agreement of synchronous remote and in-person application of the Alberta Infant Motor Scale: Cohort study.

Using standardized scales to assess motor development via telemedicine can increase access for low-income populations. Our aim was to verify the agreement and feasibility between remotely and synchronously applying the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) and the in-person format. This was a concordance study, with 77 typical infants aged 4-18 months (mean = 13 months). The AIMS was applied remote via video calls and face-to-face. We applied a questionnaire to caregivers to verify feasibility. There was a high level of agreement between the remote and in-person assessments, with intraclass correlation coefficients above 0.98 and low standard error measure values (<1 item for each posture, <2 items for the total raw score, and =5% for the normative score). The smallest detectable change was between 1.67 and 2.45 for each posture, 3 for the total raw score, and 6% for the normative score. The Bland-Altman analysis showed low bias with the mean difference close to zero (<0.80) and low error with little dispersion of the difference points around the mean. Caregivers' perspectives on the synchronous remote assessment were positive, with good quality, clear information during the assessment, and comfort with the method. The synchronous remote application of the AIMS may be an alternative for families without access to in-person services that assess motor development.

Exploring the validity and reliability of Active Motor Card: A Comprehensive Assessment of Gross Motor Development and Physical Fitness in Children Aged 6-9 Years

This research presents the Active Motor Card, an innovative evaluation instrument meticulously designed to comprehensively assess gross motor skills and physical fitness development in children aged 6-9 years. The study identifies the essential elements of motor development and physical fitness, highlighting the need for tailored assessments within this age group. The research delineates the process of development, encompassing an extensive review of existing literature, formulation of hypothetical tests, evaluation of content validity, empirical validation, and reliability assessment. The resultant Active Motor Card is validated by experts, thereby demonstrating its alignment with the target population's characteristics. Furthermore, the Gregory Analysis corroborates the appropriateness of each test item, indicating their level of difficulty or ease and their conformity with the expected characteristics of children aged 6-9. The reliability test, utilizing the Cronbach's alpha coefficient, affirms the consistency of the assessment. This product, designed for utilization in various settings, holds great potential as an effective instrument for monitoring children's motor skills and physical fitness, thereby making a positive contribution to the domains of physical education and sports. Further research is advisable to explore additional dimensions and enhance the assessment's validity, complexity, and representativeness across diverse populations. Keywords: Active Motor Card, gross motor development, physical fitness, children aged 6-9 years.

Home Videos for Remote Assessment in Children with Disabilities: A Scoping Review.

Background: Analysis of parent-provided home videos is a mode of technology that can facilitate a telehealth assessment, allowing observation of function in the child's natural home environment. This scoping review investigated areas of use of home videos for functional assessment by health professionals with a pediatric population with disabilities. Methods: Four databases were searched for articles in which parent-provided home videos were employed by health professionals for functional assessment in children with disabilities. Articles published from 2013 to 2023 were included in the review if they met the inclusion criteria, and the data were extracted into an Excel file. Results: After screening 3,019 articles, 30 articles were included in the data extraction. The majority of studies utilized home videos for diagnosis of autism, followed by assessment of motor development in infants. Studies found that using home videos for assessment is feasible and empowers parents. The validity and reliability of various home video platforms were demonstrated. Conclusions: Analysis of home videos can aid in making a timely diagnosis for prompt intervention, and can be used to assess various body functions, interchangeable with a live clinic assessment. It is important to provide parents with clear instructions when using this method. Future studies are necessary to determine whether parent-provided home videos can be utilized by a multidisciplinary team to assess diverse factors, including activity, participation, and the environment, in a variety of populations of children with disabilities, thus extending services beyond the physical borders of the clinic.

Assessing motor development and function in mouse models of neurodevelopmental disorders.

Alterations in motor development often accompany neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) and can have an impact on social interaction and communication. Studying motor development and function in mouse models of NDDs can offer a window to identify underlying biological mechanisms and establish preclinical outcome measures for testing therapeutics. This chapter describes tests to measure motor developmental milestones early postnatally and adult motor functions in mouse models of NDDs.

Effect of Sensory Integration-Based Occupational Therapy Intervention on Sensory Functions and Neuromotor Performance of a Baby with Down Syndrome: Case Report

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a sensory integration-based occupational therapy intervention programme on the sensory functions and neuromotor performance of a 14-month-old baby with Down syndrome (DS). The study evaluated the baby's sensory functions using the Test of Sensory Functions in Infants (TSFI) and neuromotor performance using the Neuro Sensory Motor Development Assessment (NSMDA) after recording demographic information. The infant participated in a 12-week occupational therapy intervention program, receiving 45-minute sessions once a week, and the family was provided with a home program. Evaluations were conducted before and after the intervention. The results showed positive improvements in the infant's sensory functions and neuromotor performance. The baby's NMDA functional level score decreased from 17 to 11, while the TSFI total score increased from 29 to 42. The study found that sensory integration-based occupational therapy intervention could be effective in improving sensory functions and neuromotor performance in a baby with DS. These results suggest that clinical management of sensory and neuromotor function may be of benefit to a significant number of babies with DS.

Concurrent and predictive validity of the Alberta Infant Motor Scale and the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales-2 administered to infants born preterm in Norway

BackgroundThe correlation between the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) and the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales-2 (PDMS-2) has not previously been assessed in Norwegian infants. Our purpose was to investigate the concurrent validity of the AIMS and the PDMS-2 in a group of high-risk infants, and to investigate the predictive validity of the two tests for atypical motor function at 24 months post term age (PTA).MethodsThis is a retrospective study of the AIMS and the PDMS-2 administered to infants born preterm with gestational age ≤ 32 weeks (n = 139) who had participated in a randomized controlled trial of early parent-administered physiotherapy. The infants’ motor development had been assessed using the AIMS and the PDMS-2 at 6- and 12-months. The primary outcome was PDMS-2 at 24-months PTA. To explore the correlation between the two tests we used Spearman’s rho. Bland Altman plots were used to detect if there were systematic differences between the measurements. Receiver-operating characteristics curves were used to calculate area under the curve as an estimate of diagnostic accuracy of the AIMS and the PDMS- with respect to motor outcome at 24 months.ResultsThe correlation between the AIMS and the PDMS-2 (total motor and locomotion subscale), at 6 months, was r = 0.44 and r = 0.76, and at 12 months r = 0.56 and r = 0.80 respectively. The predictive validity for atypical motor function at 24 months, assessed using the area under the curve at 6- and at 12- months, was for the AIMS 0.87 and 0.86, respectively, and for the PDMS-2 locomotion subscale 0.82 and 0.76 respectively.ConclusionThe correlation between the AIMS and the PDMS-2 locomotion subscale, at 6- and 12- months PTA, was good to excellent in a group of infants born preterm in Norway. And the AIMS and the locomotion subscale of the PDMS-2 were equally good predictors for atypical motor outcomes at 24 months PTA. These findings indicate that the AIMS and the locomotion subscale of the PDM-2, could be used interchangeable when assessing motor development in infants at 6- or 12 months of age.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT01089296.

5 PediaTracTM: A Novel Measure for Screening Early Motor Development in Infants Born Preterm and Other At-Risk Populations

AbstractObjective:Infant motor development is a robust predictor of long-term developmental outcomes, especially in infants at high risk for neurodevelopmental impairments, such as those born preterm (PT, gestational age [GA] &lt;37 weeks). Although direct assessments of motor development are available, they are infrequently applied by pediatricians in routine screening of the broader population of infants born preterm. Parent ratings, such as the Ages and Stages Questionnaire, 3rd Ed., can be used to screen for motor delays. However, this and other existing screening measures focus on whether children have reached milestones based on pre-established cutoffs, rather than on assessing development along a continuum of ability. The present study examined the validity of the Motor domain of the recently developed caregiver report screening tool, PediaTracTM, in distinguishing infants born PT from infants born full term (FT, GA ^37 weeks) across the first 6 months of life. The reliability and factor structure of this motor scale were also evaluated.Participants and Methods:PediaTracTM is a web-based caregiver report assessing infant development across multiple domains, including motor functioning. This study reports on results from the PediaTracTM Motor domain for the study sample of 571 caregiver-infant dyads (240 PT, 331 FT). Caregivers rated their infants on age-targeted motor skills during the newborn period (NB, defined as term equivalent for the PT group) and at 2-, 4-, and 6-months after the NB period. Item Response Theory (IRT) methods were applied to assess the reliability (i.e., information) of caregiver-reported motor skills at each age. Using the IRT item parameters of discrimination and difficulty, items were selected for inclusion and to estimate theta, an index of the latent trait, motor ability, for each infant. Analyses conducted at each age assessed the effects of group, sex, and group x sex on the motor trait. Scale reliabilities and factor structure were also examined.Results:The PT group had significantly higher scores than the FT group on the motor trait at the NB period but significantly lower scores by 4 and 6 months, suggesting slower development of motor skills in the PT group. Means (SD) theta scores (similar to z scores) for the PT and FT groups, respectively, were .14 (.88) and -.05 (.91) for the NB period, -.01 (.90) and .01 (.91) for 2 months, .20 (.90) and .36 (88) for 4 months, and .46 (78) and .66 (.89) for 6 months. Effects for sex and group x sex interactions were not significant. Reliabilities, estimated at a point close to mean theta, were .94, .93, .96, and .98 at the NB, 2-, 4-, and 6-month periods, respectively. Exploratory factor analyses revealed evidence for a single primary motor factor and multiple second-order factors at each age.Conclusions:Findings provide strong support for applications of the caregiver reported PediaTracTM motor scales in screening infants born PT and other at-risk populations for early delays or abnormalities in motor development. Advantages of this method include its ease of administration, sensitivity to developmental change, and promise in assessing subdomains of motor skill.

A Machine Learning Model to Automatic Assessment of Gross Motor Development in Children using Posenet

Gross motor skills such as sitting, jumping, and running are activities that involve the large muscles of the human body. The Test of Gross Motor Development, or TGMD, is widely used by researchers, pediatricians, physiotherapists, and educators from different countries to assess these skills in children aged 3 to 11 years. An important part of the test is that the movement, performed by the children, needs to be recorded and assessed by two or more professionals. The assessment process is laborious and takes time, and its automation is one of the main points to be developed. In recent years, methods have been proposed to automate the assessment according to the TGMD. The hypothesis investigated in this work is that it is possible to induce a machine learning model to identify whether the movement executed by the child is correct, considering only the first criterion of the TGMD-3 jumping skill. The skeleton of the children was extracted using PoseNet. A dataset of 350 images of Brazilian children between 3 and 11 years old performing the preparatory movement for the jump was used. The experimental results show an accuracy of 84%.

Assessment of motor development in children with postural asymmetry and the application of neurodevelopmental-based improvement methods

Assessment of motor development in children with postural asymmetry and the application of neurodevelopmental-based improvement methods

Differential features of early childhood motor skill development and working memory processing: evidence from fNIRS.

The study investigated the differential characteristics associated with motor skill development and working memory processing during early childhood, thereby providing insights for understanding motor learning and cognitive development in young children. In total, 101 preschool children (age: 4-6 years) were recruited for this study. The motor skill development level and the working memory capacity of the children were assessed using the MOBAK Motor Development Assessment Scale and a block task paradigm, respectively. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy brain imaging technology was used to monitor hemodynamic signals in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of the children while they completed different memory tasks. MATLAB software and the Homer2 plugin were used to calculate the oxygenated hemoglobin (Oxy-Hb) concentration in relevant brain regions during the tasks. (1) The low motor skill group exhibited significantly lower accuracy during the three-memory load condition than during the two-memory load condition. Under both two-memory and three-memory load conditions, the high motor skill group exhibited significantly higher accuracy than the low motor skill group. (2) Significant differences in the Oxy-Hb concentration were observed in the left dorsolateral PFC (L-DLPFC), and right and left triangular part of the Broca's area (R-PTBA and L-PTBA, respectively) between the two memory difficulty levels for the high motor skill group. The Oxy-Hb concentration was significantly higher during the three-memory load condition than during the two-memory load condition. Under the two-memory load condition, the high motor skill group exhibited significantly higher Oxy-Hb concentration in the L-DLPFC and L-PTBA regions than in the low motor skill group. Under the three-memory load condition, the high motor skill group exhibited significantly higher Oxy-Hb concentration in the L-DLPFC, R-PTBA, and L-PTBA regions than the low motor skill group. A close association was observed between the motor skill levels and working memory in young children, with higher motor skill levels being associated with more pronounced brain activation patterns during working memory tasks.

Early motor development: risk factors for delay in a population study in Southern Brazil.

To assess risk factors associated with motor development delay at three months of age. Cross-sectional study with mothers and their three-month-old babies in Southern Brazil. The Bayley-III Scale of Infant and Toddler Development (BSID-III) and the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) were used to assess motor development. We evaluated 756 mothers and their three-month-old babies. The overall mean motor development assessed by the BSID-III and the AIMS was 104.7 (SD 13.5) and 55.4 (SD 25.4), respectively. When assessed by the BSID-III, the lowest motor development scores were among babies born by cesarean delivery (p = 0.002), prematurely (p < 0.001), and with low birth weight (p < 0.001). When assessed by the AIMS, babies born prematurely (p = 0.002) and with low birth weight (p=0.004) had the lowest motor development means. After a cluster analysis, we found that babies born by cesarean delivery, with low birth weight, and prematurely had more impaired motor development compared with children born without any risk factors. Identifying risk factors allows the implementation of early interventions to prevent motor development delay and, therefore, reduce the probability of other future problems.

Impact of home environment on motor development of infants in South India: A cross-sectional study&amp;nbsp;

Introduction: Early childhood development is a fundamentally important phase and is influenced by stimulus and nurturing. Environment influences, particularly the home environment, is considered the critical factor for optimal growth and development. Objectives: To determine the impact of home environment on motor development in South Indian infants. Method: 164 infants aged 1-11 months residing in Belagavi City, India, were recruited in a community-based cross-sectional study based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Structured questionnaire was used to assess the home environment followed by motor development assessment using Peabody developmental Motor Scale-2 (PDMS-2). Results: Gestational age was positively associated, while duration of breast feeding, hospitalization and weight of the infant (-1.17, p= 0.03) had negative association with the fine and total motor quotient of PDMS-2. Father’s education, occupation and income had significant positive effect on total and fine motor quotients. Outside space to play had positive association with fine motor quotient (2.28, p= 0.0154). Non availability of play material like pop up toys and child never exposed to play with floating toys, cups and socks also showed lower total quotient scores. Conclusions: Gestational age, father’s education, occupation and income had a positive effect on the motor development of South Indian infants participating in the study.

Motor development in premature infants: Study protocol for an interdisciplinary hospital-home intervention.

Deviations occur in the neuropsychomotor development of premature infants; early interventions minimize delay motor. This study aimed to determine the effect of an interdisciplinary hospital-home intervention addressing motor development adaptation in premature infants in Colombia in comparison with traditional interventions. This study was based on a parallel design, with two groups, namely, experimental and control. The experimental group, hospital-home intervention (HHI) performed in two settings (i.e., hospital neonatal care units and homes), and the control group, traditional intervention, (TI) performed in institutions for premature infants. The sample will be composed of 130 randomly-allocated infants, 65 in the experimental group (HHI) and 65 in the control group (TI) of moderate to late preterm infants (gestational age between 34 and 37 weeks), weighing more than or equal to 1.800 g, who are hemodynamically stable and reside in the cities of Tunja and Bogotá-Colombia recruited between 2021 and 2022. For the pre- and post-intervention assessments, the TIMPSI and the CapDMP are the instruments used to assess motor development and the degree of parents' or caregivers' knowledge about motor development. The HHI is composed of 10 intervention strategies based on stimulation of motor development, performed twice a day for 10 min for two months, in combination with calls to a mobile device, using software (Baby Motor Skills) and an instant messaging system (WhatsApp). This hospital-home intervention program proposes an approach focused on the motor development of premature infants, based on sensory and motor stimulation strategies, in addition to follow-up performed at home with the use of a mobile application that improves the motor development of premature infants. Register Clinical Trial: NCT04563364. The HHI provides the opportunity to determine whether the individualized four-week from admission to follow up at home with parent training will improve the motor skills of premature infants.

Inter-Rater Reliability of the Polish Version of the Alberta Infant Motor Scale in Children with Heart Disease.

There is an urgent need for the systematic monitoring of motor and cognitive neurodevelopment and the evaluation of motor skill development in infants and children with heart disease. Familiarizing students and early graduates with the developmental care needed by these patients may help in the system-wide implementation of early motor screening in this population. The purpose of this study was to investigate the agreement between a last-year physiotherapy student and an experienced pediatric physiotherapist when applying the Polish version of the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) to a heterogenous group of children with congenital heart defects. Agreement between raters was verified based on the observation of 80 (38 females) patients with heart disease aged 1-18 months using a Bland-Altman plot with limits of agreement and an intraclass correlation coefficient. The bias between raters for the total score for four age groups (0-3 months, 4-7 months, 8-11 months and 12-18 months) was between -0.17 and 0.22 (range: -0.54-0.78), and the ICC was between 0.875 and 1.000. Thus, a reliable assessment of motor development or motor skills using the Polish version of the AIMS can be performed in pediatric patients with heart defects by clinically inexperienced last-year physiotherapy students who are familiarized with the AIMS manual.

Markerless human pose estimation for biomedical applications: a survey

Markerless Human Pose Estimation (HPE) proved its potential to support decision making and assessment in many fields of application. HPE is often preferred to traditional marker-based Motion Capture systems due to the ease of setup, portability, and affordable cost of the technology. However, the exploitation of HPE in biomedical applications is still under investigation. This review aims to provide an overview of current biomedical applications of HPE. In this paper, we examine the main features of HPE approaches and discuss whether or not those features are of interest to biomedical applications. We also identify those areas where HPE is already in use and present peculiarities and trends followed by researchers and practitioners. We include here 25 approaches to HPE and more than 40 studies of HPE applied to motor development assessment, neuromuscolar rehabilitation, and gait &amp;amp; posture analysis. We conclude that markerless HPE offers great potential for extending diagnosis and rehabilitation outside hospitals and clinics, toward the paradigm of remote medical care.