Randomised clinical trial of group-based physiotherapy in extremely low birthweight children with minimal/mild motor impairment: A preliminary study.

Aim: Extremely low birthweight infants often present with mild neurodevelopmental impairments in gross motor function and postural stability in early childhood. The aim of the study was to undertake a randomised controlled trial to determine the short- and longer-term effects of group-based physiotherapy compared to standard care on performance in extremely low birthweight children with minimal/mild impairment.

Methods: Fifty children aged 4 years, born <28 weeks gestation and/or birthweight <1000 g with minimal/mild motor impairment were enrolled in a randomised controlled trial and randomly allocated to 6 weeks of group-based intervention (n = 24) or standard care (n = 26).

Behaviour of 4- to 5-year-old nondisabled ELBW children: Outcomes following group-based physiotherapy intervention.

Background: Extreme prematurity or extremely low birth weight (ELBW) can adversely affect behaviour. Nondisabled ELBW children are at risk of behavioural problems, which may become a particular concern after commencement of formal education. This study explored the frequency of behavioural and emotional problems amongst nondisabled ELBW children at 4 to 5 years of age and whether intervention had a positive influence on behaviour.

Goal Attainment Scaling to Evaluate Intervention on Individual Gains for Children Born Extremely Preterm.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of group-based physical therapy on individual gains among preterm and/or extremely low-birth-weight children with minimal or mild impairment at 4 years using Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS). To explore the relationship between GAS with motor and postural outcomes and effect of gender on GAS scores.

Methods: Twenty-four 4-year-old children (born <28 weeks' gestation and/or birth weight <1000 g) with minimal or mild motor impairment completed 6 group-based weekly intervention sessions and a goal-based home program.

Are behaviour problems in extremely low-birthweight children related to their motor ability?

Aim: To investigate whether behaviour problems are independently related to mild motor impairment in 11-13-year-old children born preterm with extremely low birthweight (ELBW).

Methods: The cross-sectional study included 48 (27 males) non-disabled, otherwise healthy ELBW children (<1000 g) and 55 (28 males) term-born peers. Parents reported behaviour using the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL).

Motor performance, postural stability and behaviour of non-disabled extremely preterm or extremely low birth weight children at four to five years of age.

Background: Extremely preterm or extremely low birth weight (ELBW) children who are non-disabled and otherwise healthy are at risk of neurodevelopmental impairments. Further understanding of these impairments is needed before commencement of formal education to optimise participation levels at a critical time point for these children.

Aims: To explore motor co-ordination, postural stability, limb strength and behaviour of non-disabled four to five year old children with a history of extreme prematurity or ELBW.