Long-term motor outcomes after parent-administered early physiotherapy in children born very preterm.
Henriette Paulsen, Tordis Ustad, Kristina Anna Djupvik Aakvik et al.
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In 30 seconds
This randomized controlled trial followed 92 children born very preterm who received either early parent-administered physiotherapy or standard care, assessing motor outcomes at ages 7-10. The mean Movement Assessment Battery for Children-Second Edition (MABC-2) scores were 9.0 for the intervention group and 9.6 for standard care, both significantly lower than the control group's score of 10.8.
Key findings
- Mean MABC-2 score was 9.0 in the intervention group and 9.6 in the standard care group.
- Both preterm groups had lower motor scores than term-born controls, who scored 10.8.
- Adjusted mean difference between intervention and standard care groups was -1.2.
- Adjusted odds ratios for scoring ≤5th or ≤15th percentile did not differ between preterm groups and controls.
Why it matters
Understanding the long-term motor outcomes of very preterm children is crucial for developing effective interventions. This study highlights that early physiotherapy may not significantly improve motor outcomes compared to standard care, emphasizing the need for further research in this area.