Peabody Developmental Motor Scales Research Articles

Budesonide mixed with surfactant did not affect neurodevelopmental outcomes at 6 or 18 months corrected age in observational cohorts.

BackgroundThe addition of budesonide to surfactant in very-low-birth-weight infants with less severe RDS decreased bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) severity. Long-term neurodevelopmental follow-up was needed to monitor for systemic effects of budesonide.MethodsInfants ≤1250 g who received intratracheal budesonide (0.25 mg/kg) with surfactant (n = 173) were compared to a historical cohort who received surfactant alone (n = 294). Peabody Developmental Motor Scales II at 4–6 months corrected age and Bayley Scales of Infant & Toddler Development III at 18–22 months corrected age were compared.ResultsThere were no differences in muscle tone or motor skills by Peabody exam. There were no differences in the cognitive, language, or motor domains between cohorts on Bayley III.ConclusionsIn a cohort of infants treated with budesonide mixed with surfactant, there were no differences in developmental outcomes at 4–6 months or 18–22 months corrected age.

Factors affecting motor development of toddlers who received cardiac corrective procedures during infancy

BackgroundA risk adjustment in congenital heart surgery (RACHS-1) method was used for assessing quality of care in children undergoing congenital heart surgery. Children in RACHS-1 categories 1–4 had high survival rates. Little was known about these children and their prognosis of motor development during toddlerhood. AimsTo compare the differences between congenital heart disease (CHD) and healthy toddlers in terms of their characteristics, parental characteristics, parenting attitudes, and motor development, and further examine the influence of these factors on the motor development of the toddler with CHD. Study designA comparison study. SubjectsThere were 48 toddlers in the CHD group and 39 in the healthy toddler group. Outcomes measuresCurrent height and weight, Peabody Developmental Motor Scales second edition (PDMS-2), state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI) and Child Vulnerability Scale (CVS). ResultsCompared to the healthy group, toddlers with CHD had lower birth weight, smaller height-for-age, lower weight-for-age, and more motor developmental delay, but their mothers had lower anxiety. A shorter length of hospitalization and higher weight-for-age z score predicted a better gross motor development, with 40.2% of the variance explained. A higher weight-for-age z score and low RACHS-1 categories predicted better total motor development, with 38.4% of the variance explained. Only low RACHS-1 categories predicted better fine-motor development, with 12% of the variance explained. ConclusionsMany children in RACHS-1 categories 1–4 had growth and motor development below average in their toddlerhood. Therefore, growth and developmental progress should be assessed and mediated early after corrective procedures.

An illustration‐based developmental motor screening questionnaire for young children: Development and a Rasch analysis

AbstractThis study aimed to develop an illustration‐based developmental motor screening questionnaire (DMSQi) for young children and examined its psychometric properties. 463 young children and their caregivers were collected and received the DMSQi assessment. DMSQi is made up of two domains. The gross motor (GM) domain includes body coordination and stability/mobility subdomains. The fine motor (FM) domain includes visual motor integration and hand grasp/manipulation subdomains. The internal consistency (Cronbach's α) and test–retest reliabilities (ICCs) of DMSQi were 0.88–0.98 and 0.85–0.95, respectively. For concurrent validity, the GM and FM domains of DMSQi were highly correlated with the corresponding domains of Peabody Developmental Motor Scale, second edition (r = 0.85–0.95). DMSQi had good discriminant validity for age (p < .001). Most items (96%) were fitted and the item difficulty was from −7 to 5 scaled by Rasch analysis. DMSQi is easy, quick, and culture‐specific. It has good reliability, validity, and item fit for assessing the motor development of young children.

The Effects of Virtual Reality Based Rehabilitation on Upper Extremity Function in a Child with Cerebral Palsy: A Case Report

Aim This case report was designed to assess the efficacy of virtual reality (VR) rehabilitation on improving upper extremity function for a child with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy. Methods In addition to conventional therapies completed three times per week, the participant engaged in virtual reality rehabilitation with the Neofect Smart Kids five to seven days per week for six weeks totaling just over twelve hours of intervention time. Outcome measures were administered pre-intervention, post-intervention, and 6-weeks post-intervention. Results Varying levels of improvement in motor function, quality of movement, and functional use were observed during intervention evidenced by improved scores on the following standardized assessments: Peabody Developmental Motor Scales, Second Edition; the Quality of Upper Extremity Skills Test; and the Pediatric Evaluation and Disability Inventory—Computer Adaptive Test. The participant maintained improvements in motor skills at 6-weeks post intervention, however, the quality of his movements and overall frequency of use with his affected upper extremity decreased in the 6-weeks following termination of intervention. Conclusions Even though the results are not generalizable, the VR intervention for this child allowed for greater movement repetition and improved functional upper extremity use.

Peabody Developmental Motor Scales - Second Edition (PDMS-2): Reliability, content and construct validity evidence for Brazilian children

BackgroundThe Peabody Developmental Motor Scales - Second Edition (PDMS-2) has been used by health and educational professionals to assess the gross and fine motor skills of children with typical development, motor and/or cognitive delays, and disabilities. AimInvestigate the validity and reliability of PDMS-2 for use in Brazil. MethodsFor content validity, 13 professionals participated in the study. For construct validity, a sample of 637 children from birth until 71 months (0–23 months: n = 399; 24–71 months: n = 238) was assessed with the PDMS-2. ResultsThe PDMS-2 administered to the Brazilian population has psychometric characteristics equivalent to the original version. ConclusionPDMS-2 is a valid and reliable tool for evaluating Brazilian children's motor development and providing appropriate support for clinical and educational intervention plans and follow-ups.

Early Evaluation and the Effect of Socioeconomic Factors on Neurodevelopment in Infants with Tetralogy of Fallot

Neurodevelopmental sequelae are prevalent among patients with congenital heart defects (CHD). In a study of infants and children with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), we sought to identify those at risk for abnormal neurodevelopment and to test associations between socioeconomic and medical factors with neurodevelopment deficits. Single-center retrospective observational study of patients with repaired TOF that were evaluated at the institution’s Cardiac Kids Developmental Follow-up Program (CKDP) between 2012 and 2018. Main outcomes included neurodevelopmental test scores from the Bayley Infant Neurodevelopmental Screener (BINS), Peabody Developmental Motor Scale (PDMS), and Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (Bayley-III). Mixed effects linear regression and marginal logistic regression models tested relationships between patient characteristics and outcomes. Sub-analyses were conducted to test correlations between initial and later neurodevelopment tests. In total, 49 patients were included, predominantly male (n = 33) and white (n = 28), first evaluated at a median age of 4.5 months. Forty-three percent of patients (n = 16) had deficits in the BINS, the earliest screening test. Several socioeconomic parameters and measures of disease complexity were associated with neurodevelopment, independently of genetic syndrome. Early BINS and PDMS performed in infancy were associated with Bayley-III scores performed after 1 year of age. Early screening identifies TOF patients at risk for abnormal neurodevelopment. Socioeconomic factors and disease complexity are associated with abnormal neurodevelopment and should be taken into account in the risk stratification and follow-up of these patients. Early evaluation with BINS and PDMS is suggested for detection of early deficits.

Impact of sensory processing dysfunction on fine motor skills in autism spectrum disorders

IntroductionChildren with autism spectrum disorders predominantly exhibit social impairment but significant physical features are manifested as motor delays and deficits affecting their daily living. Though sensory integration is a basic component required for motor skills, the impact of sensory processing dysfunction on fine motor skills is not clear, which is explored in this study.MethodsThis cross sectional study was carried out in Vidya Sudha – school for children with special needs. Overall, 56 children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders with the Childhood Autism Rating Scale were included in the study. Peabody Developmental Motor Scale-2 was used to assess the level of their fine motor skill, and the sensory profile served to evaluate their sensory processing dysfunction.ResultsPearson’s correlation showed a strong positive correlation between the fine motor quotient and auditory, visual, vestibular, and tactile processing, with <i>r</i> > 0.7 and <i>p</i> 0.05. Beta value of logistic regression of tactile, vestibular, and visual processing was 0.554, 0.288, and 0.191, respectively, which conveys that tactile dysfunction has a major impact, followed by vestibular and visual processing deficits.ConclusionsThe study concludes that tactile, vestibular, and visual sensory dysfunctions appear to influence the fine motor skills, with tactile dysfunction exerting a greater impact. The result strongly emphasizes that paediatric therapists should individualize treatment on the basis of sensory dysfunction, which should be considered and simultaneously addressed when training fine motor function and activities of daily living.

The effect of parent-administered infant massage on the developmental outcomes of premature infants

Introduction: Prematurely born infants often have developmental delays in multiple areas when compared to infants born at term. Neurodevelopmental supportive care techniques such as Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) or infant massage have the potential to affect the infant’s developmental outcome. Evidence supports the benefits of parent-administered infant massage in terms of the premature infants’ growth, weight gain and length of hospitalisation; however, the effect of infant massage on other aspects of development has not yet been established. Method: A randomised controlled trial was used to investigate the developmental milestones of infants who received parent-administered infant massage. The Peabody Developmental Motor Scales Second Edition (PDMS-2) test was used to assess infants at birth and again at four to six months (actual age) along with the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development Third Edition (BSID-III). Results: Positive clinical effect sizes were shown in the massaged group in the Cognitive, Reflexes and Visual-Motor Integration subtests. There was also a strong correlation between frequency of massage and the social-emotional development of the massaged infants. Facilitators and barriers, in performing the infant massage programme, were established. Conclusion: This study supports the use of parent-administered infant massage for premature infants older than 32 weeks gestation to assist with the attainment of their developmental milestones as well as the parent-infant bonding process.

Reliability and validity of a computer game-based tool of upper extremity assessment for object manipulation tasks in children with cerebral palsy.

IntroductionA computer game-based upper extremity (CUE) assessment tool is developed to quantify manual dexterity of children with Cerebral Palsy (CP). The purpose of this study was to determine test-retest reliability of the CUE performance measures (success rate, movement onset time, movement error, and movement variation) and convergent validity with the Peabody Developmental Motor Scale version 2 (PDMS-2) and the Quality of Upper Extremity Skills Test (QUEST).MethodsThirty-five children with CP aged four to ten years were tested on two occasions two weeks apart.ResultsCUE performance measures of five chosen object manipulation tasks exhibited high to moderate intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) values. There was no significant difference in the CUE performance measures between test periods. With few exceptions, there was no significant correlation between the CUE performance measures and the PDMS-2 or the QUEST test scores.ConclusionsThe high to moderate ICC values and lack of systematic errors indicate that the CUE assessment tool has the ability to repeatedly record reliable performance measures of different object manipulation tasks. The lack of a correlation between the CUE and the PDMS-2 or QUEST scores indicates that performance measures of these assessment tools represent distinct attributes of manual dexterity.

Effect of Jin's three-needle combined with MyoTrac biostimulation therapy on upper limb function in children with spastic hemiplegia

To compare the therapeutic effect among Jin 's three-needle combined with MyoTrac biostimulation therapy, simple Jin's three-needle and simple MyoTrac biostimulation therapy on upper limb function in children with spastic hemiplegia. A total of 120 children with spastic hemiplegia were randomized into an observation group, a control group 1 and a control group 2, 40 cases in each group. Conventional occupational therapy was adopted in each group. Additionally, Jin's three-needle therapy was applied in the control group 1, scalp acupuncture and body acupuncture were sustained for 1 h and 30 min respectively, once a day, 5 times a week; MyoTrac biostimulation therapy was adopted in the control group 2, once a day, 15 min each time, 5 times a week; Jin 's three-needle combined with MyoTrac biostimulation therapy were given in the observation group. Two months were as one course, and totally 3 courses were required in the 3 groups. Before treatment and 2, 4, 6 months into treatment, the standard grasping score (sGr) and the standard visual-motor integration score (sVI) of Peabody developmental motor scales-2 (PDMS-2), the modified Ashworth scale (MAS) grade and active range of movement (AROM) of wrist joints were recorded in the 3 groups. Compared before treatment, sGr of 4, 6 months into treatment was increased in the observation group (P<0.05), sGr of 6 months into treatment was increased in the control group 1 and the control group 2 (P<0.05); sVI of 2, 4, 6 months into treatment was increased in the observation group (P<0.05), sVI of 6 months into treatment was increased in the control group 1 and the control group 2 (P<0.05). sGr and sVI of 6 months into treatment in the observation group were higher than those in the control group 1 and the control group 2 (P<0.05). Compared before treatment, the MAS grade of 6 months into treatment was improved in the 3 groups (P<0.05), and that in the observation group was superior to the control group 1 and the control group 2 (P<0.05). Jin 's three-needle combined with MyoTrac biostimulation therapy can effectively improve the fine function and muscle tone of upper limbs in children with spastic hemiplegia, and the improvement is superior to the simple Jin 's three-needle and the MyoTrac biostimulation therapy.

Assessing the cognitive and behavioral development of 3-year-old children born from fathers with severe male infertility

Despite the large number of babies born worldwide following intracytoplasmic sperm injection, concerns about the procedure's safety still exist owing to the use of suboptimal spermatozoa. Thus, follow-up of children conceived via intracytoplasmic sperm injection is highly recommended. We propose the use of parent-administered questionnaires to monitor the development of offspring conceived via intracytoplasmic sperm injection. This study aimed to determine whether male infertility treatment affects offspring development. We compared obstetrical and neonatal outcomes andphysical and psychological development of toddlers conceived viainvitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Once newborns reached 3 years of age, participating patients were sent a set of parent-administered questionnaires, including the Ages and Stages Questionnaires; Prescreening Developmental Questionnaire 2; Peabody Developmental Motor Scales, Second Edition; Social Skills Rating System; Parenting Stress Index, Third Edition; and Child Behavior Checklist for Ages 2-3. Child development was measured by the Ages and Stages Questionnaires; Prescreening Developmental Questionnaire 2; and Peabody Developmental Motor Scales, Second Edition, questionnaires, whereas Social Skills Rating System; Parenting Stress Index, Third Edition; and Child Behavior Checklist for Ages 2-3 questionnaires were used to measure child behavior. The child's developmental or behavioral outcome was considered "abnormal" when he or she scored below average in ≥2 questionnaires from the respective category. We also conducted subanalyses to assess the effects of male genomic integrity, DNA fragmentation, chemical exposure, utilization of surgically retrieved spermatozoa, and extended embryo culture to determine the development of a child conceived via intracytoplasmic sperm injection. A total of 12,306 couples met the inclusion criteria for this study; 1914 of 7433 patients (25.8%) who underwent intracytoplasmic sperm injection and 451 of 4873 patients (9.3%) who underwent invitro fertilization returned the questionnaires. Our comparison of obstetrical outcomes between the 2 groups did not reveal any significant differences in the mode of delivery distribution, with most mothers having uncomplicated vaginal deliveries. Furthermore, gender distribution, gestational ages, and birthweights were also comparable between children conceived via intracytoplasmic sperm injection and invitro fertilization. However, children conceived via invitro fertilization displayed impaired developmental characteristics compared with the intracytoplasmic sperm injection-conceived cohort (adjusted odds ratio, 0.72; 95% confidence interval, 0.5-0.9; P=.0004). There was no difference in child behavior. Furthermore, 3 cases of autism were reported, 1 case from the invitro fertilization group and 2 from the intracytoplasmic sperm injection group, all conceived from couples with an older male partner. Ages and Stages Questionnaires outcomes were also compared for the offspring conceived via invitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection by gender; however, no significant differences were observed. In addition, 5 separate subanalyses were then conducted exclusively for the intracytoplasmic sperm injection-conceived group. Levels of spermatogenic failure, DNA fragmentation, and chemical exposure did not significantly affect offspring development. Interestingly, although the length of embryo culture did not seem to influence child development, the abnormal behavior rate was significantly higher in children from the day 3 embryo transfer cohort (adjusted odds ratio, 0.4; 95% confidence interval, 0.05-0.34; P=.04). Children conceived via intracytoplasmic sperm injection from ejaculated spermatozoa displayed impaired developmental and behavioral characteristics compared with toddlers conceived from surgically retrieved specimens (adjusted odds ratio, 4.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-20.7; P=.05). Most children conceived via intracytoplasmic sperm injection and invitro fertilization are developing well without significant delays. Although the development of a child conceived via intracytoplasmic sperm injection was not affected by most of the variables assessed, those conceived from surgically retrieved spermatozoa were at a considerably lower risk of abnormal developmental and abnormal behavioral characteristics than offspring conceived from ejaculated specimens. However, given the small numbers of respondents available for many subgroups of interest, further studies of outcomes of children born from fathers with severe male factor infertility are warranted.

36-47 aylık çocuklara ve annelere uygulanan motor gelişim destek programının çocukların motor gelişimine etkisinin incelenmesi

The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of the motor development support programs conducted on 36-47 month-old children and mothers with children of this age group on motor development of children and to compare the effects of the program conducted on the children and the program conducted on the the mothers. The sample group of the study consisted of 13 children of 36-43 months (experimental group-I), 10 mothers with 36-43 month-old children (experimental group-II) and 12 children of 36-43 months (control group). The data were collected by means of using the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales-2. Experimental group-I was applied the motor development support program for children (MDSP-C) while experimental group-II was applied the motor development support program for mothers (MDSP-M). As a result of the study, it was determined that the score increase in both the stationary subtest and gross motor quotient of the children was caused by the motor development support programs (MDSP-C & MDSP-M), yet the experimental procedures did not provide any advantages compared to each other. It was also determined that neither MDSP-C nor MDSP-M had any effects in increasing the locomotion, object manipulation, grasping, visual-motor integration and fine motor scores of the children.

A Pilot Study of Two Different Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy Interventions in Children With Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy After Botulinum Toxin Injection During Preschool Education.

Introduction: To establish a pilot study on applying two low dose (40 h) constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) interventions in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy (CP) after botulinum toxin (BoNT-A) injection during preschool education.Methods: Five children with spastic CP (mean age: 5.31 years; Gross Motor Function Classification System level I and II) undergoing regular BoNT-A injections and rehabilitation programs were included. Participants were randomly allocated to one of two CIMT programs (40 h): a 2-week 4-hours/day CIMT program and a 4-week 2-hours/day CIMT program. One CIMT program was performed 1 month after a BoNT-A injection, and then the second program was implemented with the next injection. The outcomes were measured by changes in Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS), the grasp and Visual-Motor Integration (VMI) test in Peabody-Developmental Motor Scales (PDMS), the self-care scale on the Functional Skill Scale, and the Caregiver Assistance in Chinese Version of Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI-C), Anxiety and Oppositional Defiance Problems of Achenbach System of Empirically-Based Assessment before and after the CIMT interventions, and at every 2 months' follow-up thereafter.Results: The mean age of the participants was 5.31 years, BMI was 16.7 (kg/m2), VIQ was 86.4 ± 8.5, and dose of BoNT-A injection in the upper limb was 42 ± 26.6 units. Grasp, VMI, and self-care on the Functional Skill Scale were significantly better in the 4-week 2-hours/day CIMT program (p < 0.001, p = 0.001, p < 0.001). GAS, grasp, VMI, two 2 self-care scales of PEDI were significantly improved after the CIMT programs, and improvement continued for up to 4 months after the programs. There was no clinical evidence showing changes in the scores for anxiety and oppositional defiance problems during the study period.Conclusions: The preliminary findings, although limited, suggest a potential therapeutic role for the school-based CIMT program after BoNT-A injection. The 4-week 2-hours/day CIMT program might be better than a 2-week 4-hours/day program in terms of self-care and hand function when performed in kindergarten in this pilot study. Furthermore, this pilot study provides valuable information; therefore, it is crucial to include more CP children and blinded assessors for hand function and ADL in the future study.

The Relation between Visual Motor Integration and Cognitive Development in Full Term versus Preterm Infants

Background: Preterm children present more often than children born at term with neurological problems that include severe neurological handicaps, such as cerebral palsy or severe mental retardation, or more subtle cognitive impairments. Purpose of the study: To investigate the relation between visual motor integration and cognitive development in full term versus preterm infants. Subjects: One hundred and twenty infants (full term & preterm infants) from both sexes, their ages ranged from 6 to 24 months. They were selected from Saray El-kobba Medical Center & Sawa Academy Nursery in Cairo (Ain shams area). Methods: Children were divided into 2 groups of equal number, Group A: Included sixty full term infants and Group B: Included sixty preterm infants (low risk preterm). Within the 2 groups children were subdivided into 3 subgroups according to their chronological age for full term and corrected age for preterm. The participants of both groups were assessed by the following tools to assess their visual motor integration and cognition by The Peabody Developmental Motor Scales–Second Edition (PDMS-2) and the Portage Guide to early childhood education: (Arabic version) respectively. Results: The results revealed that there was a strong positive correlation between PDMS-2 and Portage scale in full term sub groups (6-12months), (12-18 months) and (18-24 months) scores [( r= 0.48, p=0.03), (r=0.84, p=0.0001) and (r=0.75, p=0.0001) respectively]. There was strong positive correlation between PDMS-2 and Portage scale in preterm subgroups (6-12 months), (12-18 months) and (18-24 months) scores [(r=0.84, p=0.0001) – (r=0.63, p=0,003) –(r=0.88, p=0.0001) respectively]. Conclusion: Based on this study, it could be concluded that there is a relation between visual motor integration and cognitive development in full term versus preterm infants.

ASSESSMENT OF MOTOR DEVELOPMENT OF PRESCHOOL CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL EDUCATION NEEDS

Assessment of motor development in preschool children has become increasingly important with the recent acknowledgement that motor impairment/deficit is linked with cognitive, language, social, and emotional difficulties. As there is lack of evidence regarding motor development and early intervention in children with special education needs (SEN), the purpose of this study was to assess the motor development of preschool students with SEN within the educational context to allow their teachers to design appropriate physical education activities to improve students’ motor proficiency. In the present study, the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales – Second Edition test battery was used with five groups of students with different SEN: (a) Autism Spectrum Disorder, (b) Down syndrome, (c) cerebral palsy, (d) mental disability, and (e) specific learning difficulties. Students were grouped on the basis of specific characteristics, such as gender and SEN, and statistically significant differences between groups were sought. Differences in the difficulties encountered during the subtests by children in different SEN groups were found, suggesting that evidence of certain motor weaknesses are more likely for children with specific SEN. An unsatisfactory level in overall performance in gross, fine, and total motor quotients confirmed the delayed motor development of students with SEN. The paper concludes with recommendations for an appropriate evaluative measure and early intervention programmes for children with specific motor impairments.&#x0D; &#x0D; &lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt; Article visualizations:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0626/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Development of the Social Motor Function Classification System for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Psychometric Study

To examine reliability and validity of the new Social Motor Function Classification System for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (SMFCS-ASD). The SMFCS-ASD reliability was examined on 25 children (62.4months SD 7.8) with ASD among six physical therapists. The validity study involved 1001 children (57.0months, SD 9.9) with ASD using the gross motor scale (GMS) of the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales (PDMS-2). The indices of agreement and reliability across six examiners were moderate to substantial (Cohen's κ ≤ 0.65 and ICC > 0.90, all p < 0.001). The SMFCS-ASD was significantly correlated with the GMS of PDMS-2 (all rho from 0.61 to 0.76, p < 0.001). The SMFCS-ASD was reliable and significantly correlated with the GMS of the PDMS-2.

Do Infants at Risk of Developing Cerebral Palsy or Other Neurodevelopmental Disorders Learn What They Practice?

Through secondary analyses of the Small Step. Randomized Control Trial, we tested the hypothesis that children at risk of developing cerebral palsy (CP) or other neurodevelopmental disorders would learn what they practice, i.e., that they would have a more rapid development within the specifically trained foci (hand use or mobility) of each time period compared to the development rate within the foci not trained at that time. Nineteen infants (6.3 (1.62) months corrected age) included in the Small Step program were assessed at six time points during the intervention. For statistical analysis, general and mixed linear models were used, and the independent variables were the Peabody Developmental Motor scale (stationary, locomotion, grasping and visuomotor sub scales), the Gross Motor Function Measure-66 and the Hand Assessment for Infants. Outcomes related to gross motor function improved significantly more after mobility training than after hand use training, while fine motor function was improved to the same extent following both training types. Significantly higher improvements after the first training period were seen in one out of three outcome measures in both gross and fine motor assessments. The improvements observed were all independent of diagnosis at two years. The concept “you learn what you practice” was most clearly confirmed in the case of gross motor development.

Effect of Siblings and Type of Delivery on the Development of Motor Skills in the First 48 Months of Life.

This study aimed to verify whether the presence of siblings and the type of delivery had an influence on the motor skills development of children in the first 48 months of life. We developed a quantitative study with a sample of 405 children of both genders, divided according to the studied variables: children with siblings, children without siblings, children born via eutocic delivery, and children born via dystocic delivery. The instrument used in the study was the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales-2. Overall, the results indicated that children who had siblings had, on average, better outcomes regarding all motor skills (global and fine). Furthermore, those born via eutocic delivery, on average, had better outcomes regarding all motor skills (global and fine) when compared to children born via dystocic delivery. Thus, the presence of siblings in the family context and the type of delivery positively influenced motor development, especially after 24 months of age, showing that the presence of siblings providing cooperative activities through play and challenges improved cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development. Furthermore, a eutocic delivery, in addition to providing a better recovery from labor and the immediate affective bond between mother and child, also led to better results in terms of global and fine motor skills.

Effects of auditovisual feedback on eye-hand coordination in children with cerebral palsy

BackgroundChildren with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy have deficits in eye-hand coordination. This limits manual actions performed with the affected hand, especially fine motor skills such as grasping and manipulation. Visual-motor integration, grasping skills, and visual perception are collectively involved in eye-hand coordination. AimsWe investigated the effects of augmented biofeedback training on eye-hand coordination in children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy. Methods and proceduresForty-five spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy children (5–8 years old) were included. Children were assigned randomly into three equal groups. One group received traditional physical therapy to facilitate visual-motor integration and grasping skills for 3 months. The second group received augmented biofeedback training. The third group received a combination of augmented biofeedback training and traditional physical therapy. Children were evaluated with the Peabody Developmental Motor Scale (2nd edition) (PDMS-2). Treatment sessions were conducted for 60 min, three times a week, for 3 consecutive months. Outcomes and resultsChildren that received augmented biofeedback training alongside traditional physical therapy had significantly improved scores in the Visual-Motor Integration and grasping subtests compared to children that received only one intervention. Conclusions and implicationsAugmented biofeedback training alongside physical therapy improved eye-hand coordination in children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy.

High-level motor skills assessment for ambulant children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review and decision tree.

To examine the psychometric evidence for high-level motor skills assessment tools for ambulant, school-aged children with cerebral palsy (CP). We searched five databases for population (children with CP aged 5-18y in Gross Motor Function Classification System levels I and II), assessment focus (high-level motor skills), and psychometric evidence. We evaluated evidence strength using the number of studies, quality, and conduct according to COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health status Measurement INstruments checklists. Eleven assessments (39 studies) met the criteria. Seven high-level motor skills assessment items (Muscle Power Sprint Test, 10m Shuttle Run Test, 10×5m Sprint Test, vertical jump, standing broad jump, seated throw, and Timed Up and Down Stairs) had strong validity and responsiveness evidence. Jumping items and seated throw lacked reliability data. Four high-level motor skills assessment batteries (Functional Strength Measure in CP, Gross Motor Function Measure-Challenge, Peabody Developmental Motor Scale, and Test of Gross Motor Development, Second Edition) had moderate-to-strong validity and/or reliability evidence. Responsiveness data were only available for the Gross Motor Function Measure-Challenge battery. The decision tree was developed with five levels: clinical feasibility, relevance, tool design, clinical utility, and psychometric properties. High-level motor skills assessment tools have strong psychometric evidence for ambulant, school-aged children with CP. The decision tree can assist clinicians and researchers in identifying appropriate tools to measure high-level motor skills. An evidence-based decision tree guides the selection of appropriate high-level motor skills assessment tools. Seven high-level motor skills assessment items have strong psychometric evidence and clinical utility for ambulant children with cerebral palsy. Four high-level motor skills assessment batteries with recreation and mobility items have emerging psychometric evidence in this population.