Influence of Body Position on the Motor Development of Preterm Infants: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract Background To analyze the influence of body position on the motor development of preterm infants in the first year of life corrected for prematurity. Methods This controlled, randomized, open trial included 30 preterm infants randomly assigned to one of the following three groups: prone group (n = 9), supine group (n = 10), and control group (n = 11). Intervention: Motor development was assessed at four time points using the Alberta Infant Motor Scale: first outpatient visit and at 4, 8 and 12 months corrected age. Results In the third assessment at 8 months corrected age, the supine group exhibited better motor development than the other groups (p = 0.02). In the control group, the number of infants with normal development decreased from 11 (100%) in the first assessment to 5 (45.45%) in the last assessment. Most infants of mothers who received guidance on body positioning achieved normal motor development in the first year of life (63.1%). Greater dispersion from normal Alberta Infant Motor Scale scores was observed in infants at 8 and 12 months of age. Conclusions Guidance on body positioning of preterm infants at home appears to have a positive influence in the first year of life. Child care strategies after hospitalization should be supported to permit full development of the child. What’s New This study reinforces home care programs with specialized orientation for motor development of preterm newborns. By the end of the first year of life most infants in the experimental groups (supine and prone positions) achieved a normal motor development, which did not happen in the control group.