Late preterm infants' motor development until term age

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the motor development of late preterm newborn infants (LPI) from birth to termcorrected age using the Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP) and to compare the obtained results with those of term infants at birth. METHODS: Prospective cohort study, 29 late preterm newborn infants were evaluated by the TIMP at birth and every two weeks until term-corrected age. The TIMP was administered to 88 term infants at birth. RESULTS: The mean TIMP score of late preterm newborn infants was 51.9 +/- 5.8 at 34-35 weeks and 62.6 +/- 5.2 at 40 weeks. There was a significant increase at 38-39 weeks in the LPI group (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the motor evaluations between term infants at birth and LPI at the equivalent age. CONCLUSION: The LPI presented a gradual progression of motor development until the term-corrected age, but differences with term infants at birth were not detected.