Spatio-temporal aspects of upper-limb goal-directed movements and relations to perinatal factors in preterm 4-year-old children

• Objectives: This ongoing quasi-longitudinal study is aimed at the investigation of spatio-temporal properties of goaldirected upper limb movements in 4-year-old children born preterm, compared to age- and sex-matched children born at term. Further, relations between movement quality, in terms of coordination and control, and perinatal factors are of interest.Background: Several studies have shown substantial and persistent motor dysfunction in children born preterm, with no known neurological impairment, at school age. Few studies have, however, investigated parameters related to movement control and coordination and their possible perinatal associations with detailed measurement methods in children at 4 years of age.Design/Method: Performances with the left and right armhand during a unimanual continuous sequential precision task were registered by a 6-camera optoelectronic tracking system (240 Hz, ProReflex, Qualisys Inc.). Information with regard to spatial and temporal parameters of the movement trajectories was extracted.Results: Preliminary results from analyses of kinematic data show longer duration and more spatio-temporal segmentations of the movement trajectory in the preterm group compared to their peers. Analyses of associations between kinematic outcome data and perinatal factors will further be investigated.Conclusions: These results indicate that the 4-year-old children born preterm, as compared to term born controls, have affected neuromotor function as indicated by kinematic properties related to coordination and control. Further analyses will reveal whether these findings are associated with specific perinatal factors.

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Psykologi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Psychology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Psychology

Psykologi

Psychology

psykologi

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

kon (ämneskategori)