GROWTH AND MOTOR-PERFORMANCE IN PRETERM CHILDREN AT 8 YEARS OF AGE

At 8 years of age 41 preterm and 24 term children were followed up in a long-term prospective study of 46 unselected infants born before 35 completed weeks of gestation and of 26 term infants. The two groups were comparable in physical growth and there was no significant difference between them in motor performance, as evaluated with the Test of Motor Impairment. Only minor motor problems were found (in 22% of the preterm and 17% of the term group). In the preterm group, motor impairment was correlated to birthweight. The preterm children had less developed postural control and manifested more compensatory movements during the balance tasks than the term children.