Consensus definition and diagnostic criteria for neonatal encephalopathy-study protocol for a real-time modified delphi study.

Background: 'Neonatal encephalopathy' (NE) describes a group of conditions in term infants presenting in the earliest days after birth with disturbed neurological function of cerebral origin. NE is aetiologically heterogenous; one cause is peripartum hypoxic ischaemia. Lack of uniformity in the terminology used to describe NE and its diagnostic criteria creates difficulty in the design and interpretation of research and complicates communication with families.

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

Background: The 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).

Methods: This 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.

Test of infant motor performance: Cross-cultural adaptation, validity and reliability in Persian infants.

Background: The Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP) is an appropriate tool used to measure infant motor performance in many countries and due to the importance of the TIMP in the early diagnosis of infants with developmental delay, the production of a reliable translation of the TIMP in Iran is necessary.

Aims: This study was designed to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Persian version of the TIMP and cross-cultural adaptation of the TIMP to Persian.

Method: Twenty- two experts were involved in translation, cross-cultural adaptation, validity and reliability.

Early Identification of Atypical Motor Performance of Infants With Prenatal Opioid Exposure.

Purpose: To investigate the association between prenatal opioid exposure (POE) and newborn infants' motor performance to aid in the early identification of developmental delays.

Methods: Nineteen infants with POE requiring pharmacological treatment, 27 infants with POE without pharmacological treatment, and 25 infants without POE were assessed via the Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP).

Results: Infants in both groups with POE had lower TIMP scores than infants without POE.

Two-year motor outcomes associated with the dose of NICU based physical therapy: The Noppi RCT.

Background: Interventions involving both the parent and the preterm infant have demonstrated lasting effects on cognitive outcomes, but motor effects are less salient. It remains unclear when to commence early intervention and if dosages have impact on motor outcomes.

Aims: To examine the effect on motor performance at 24-months corrected age following a parent-administered intervention performed with infants born preterm in the NICU.

Functional movement assessment with the Test of Infant Motor Performance.

The purpose of this article is to review research on the Test of Infant Motor Performance, a functional assessment of movement capabilities with age standards for infants from 34 weeks postmenstrual age through 17 weeks post term (corrected age). The Test of Infant Motor Performance was normed on a U.S.

Effects of a Parent-Administered Exercise Program in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: Dose Does Matter-A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Despite the risk of delayed motor development in infants born preterm, knowledge about interventions in the neonatal intensive care unitt (NICU) and the effects of dosing is sparse.

Objective: The objectives of this study were to examine the effectiveness of a parent-administered exercise program in the NICU on motor outcome at 3 months corrected age (CA) and the effect of dosing on motor performance.

Design: This was a randomized clinical trial.

Relationship between mother-infant mutual dyadic responsiveness and premature infant development as measured by the Bayley III at 6 weeks corrected age.

Background: The quality of mother-preterm infant interaction has been identified as a key factor in influencing the infant's later development and language acquisition. The relationship between mother-infant responsiveness and later development may be evident early in infancy, a time period which has been understudied.

Aim: Describe the relationship between mother-infant mutual dyadic responsiveness and premature infant development.

Early Parent-Administered Physical Therapy for Preterm Infants: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To investigate the short-term effect of parent-administered physical therapy in the preterm period on motor performance in medically stable infants.

Methods: This study was a pragmatic, multicenter, randomized controlled trial including 153 infants born at gestational age ≤32 weeks and randomized to an intervention (n = 74) or a control (n = 79) group. The intervention promoted postural control, head control, and midline orientation.

Test-retest reliability of the Test of Infant Motor Performance Screening Items in infants at risk for impaired functional motor performance.

Objective: To examine test-retest reliability of the TIMPSI in infants at risk for impaired functional motor performance.

Methods: The TIMPSI was administered twice to 51 infants from two different hospitals in Norway.

Results: The intra-class correlation coefficient was 0.

Behavior During Tethered Kicking in Infants With Periventricular Brain Injury.

Purpose: To describe behavior of children with periventricular brain injury (PBI) in a tethered-kicking intervention.

Methods: Sixteen infants with PBI were randomly assigned to exercise or no-training in a longitudinal pilot study. Frequencies of leg movements and interlimb coordination were described from videos at 2 and 4 months' corrected age (CA).

Psychometric Properties of the Pediatric Balance Scale Using Rasch Analysis.

Purpose: The Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS) is a 14-item measure of functional balance for children. This study examined PBS dimensionality, rating scale function, and hierarchical properties using Rasch analysis.

Methods: The PBS data were analyzed retrospectively for 823 children, aged 2 to 13 years, with uni- and multidimensional Rasch partial credit models.

Correlation between fractional anisotropy and motor outcomes in one-year-old infants with periventricular brain injury.

Purpose: To determine whether motor outcomes of an exercise intervention beginning at 2 months corrected age (CA) in children with periventricular brain injury (PBI) are correlated with fractional anisotropy (FA) measures derived from diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) at 12 months CA.

Materials And Methods: DTI was performed in eight infants with PBI who were randomly assigned to kicking and treadmill stepping exercise or a no-training condition. Development was assessed using the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) and the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS).

Concurrent validity of the TIMP and the Bayley III scales at 6 weeks corrected age.

Purpose: Examine agreement between the Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP) and the Bayley III.

Methods: One hundred forty-five infants born at 29 to 34 weeks gestation with socioenvironmental risk factors were tested on the TIMP and Bayley III at 6 weeks corrected age (CA). Scores were correlated to assess convergence/divergence of content.

Physical therapy observation and assessment in the neonatal intensive care unit.

This article presents the elements of the Observation and Assessment section of the Infant Care Path for Physical Therapy in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The types of physical therapy assessments presented in this path are evidence-based and the suggested timing of these assessments is primarily based on practice knowledge from expert therapists, with supporting evidence cited. Assessment in the NICU begins with a thorough review of the health care record.

Use of care paths to improve patient management.

The purpose of this special issue of Physical & Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics is to present an evidence-based system to guide the physical therapy management of patients in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Two systematic guides to patient management will be presented. The first is a care path intended primarily for use by physical therapists, and the second is a care path for families of infants being cared for in the NICU.

Effects on motor development of kicking and stepping exercise in preterm infants with periventricular brain injury: a pilot study.

Background: Preterm infants with periventricular brain injury (PBI) have a high incidence of atypical development and leg movements.

Objective: Determine whether kicking and treadmill stepping intervention beginning at 2 months corrected age (CA) in children with PBI improves motor function at 12 months CA when compared with control subjects.

Method: In a multi-center pilot study for a controlled clinical trial, sixteen infants with PBI were randomly assigned to home exercise consisting of kicking and treadmill stepping or a no-training control condition.

Study protocol: an early intervention program to improve motor outcome in preterm infants: a randomized controlled trial and a qualitative study of physiotherapy performance and parental experiences.

Background: Knowledge about early physiotherapy to preterm infants is sparse, given the risk of delayed motor development and cerebral palsy.

Methods/design: A pragmatic randomized controlled study has been designed to assess the effect of a preventative physiotherapy program carried out in the neonatal intensive care unit. Moreover, a qualitative study is carried out to assess the physiotherapy performance and parents' experiences with the intervention.

Prediction of motor and functional outcomes in infants born preterm assessed at term.

Purpose: To compare 3 different assessment approaches at term to infants born preterm to predict motor and functional outcomes at 12 months adjusted age.

Methods: Infants (n = 100) born at less than 32 weeks postconceptional age were assessed at term using the General Movements Assessment, Einstein Neonatal Neurobehavioral Assessment Scales, Test of Infant Motor Performance, and at 12 months adjusted age using the Alberta Infant Motor Scales, Peabody Developmental Motor Scales-2, Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales-Daily Living Skills, and Battelle Developmental Inventory.

Results: The General Movements Assessment (r2 = 0.

The test of infant motor performance: reliability in spinal muscular atrophy type I.

Purpose: The aim of this article was to determine reliability of the Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP) in infants with spinal muscular atrophy, type I (SMA-I).

Methods: Interrater reliability training was undertaken by 17 physical therapist evaluators using 6 infants with hypotonia and weakness (5 videotaped, 1 live). Eight trained evaluators then conducted a test-retest reliability study at their own center, performing 2 tests approximately 1 month apart on each of 11 infants with genetically confirmed SMA-I (5 boys, 6 girls; age range 37-501 days; 3 on pulmonary support).

Effectiveness of the Test of Infant Motor Performance as an educational tool for mothers.

Purpose: To determine if the Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP) could be used as an educational tool for mothers; if learning is dependent on the format used or the tester; and if mothers could retain information provided on motor development of infants born prematurely over a short period of time.

Method: Twenty-eight mother-infant pairs were assigned to either a pictorial format group or a text-only format group. Mothers completed a survey before and after observing 1 of 2 therapists perform the TIMP on their infant.