Characteristics of general movements in preterm infants assessed by computer-based video analysis

ABSTRACT

Background: Previous evidence suggests that the variability of the spatial center of infant movements, calculated by computer-based video analysis software, can identify fidgety general movements (GMs) and predict cerebral palsy. Aim: To evaluate whether computer-based video analysis quantifies specific characteristics of normal fidgety movements as opposed to writhing general movements. Methods: A longitudinal study design was applied. Twenty-seven low-to moderate-risk preterm infants (20 boys, 7 girls; mean gestational age 32 [SD 2.7, range 27–36] weeks, mean birth weight 1790 grams [SD 430g, range 1185–2700g]) were videotaped at the ages of 3–5 weeks (period of writhing GMs) and 10–15 weeks (period of fidgety GMs) post term. GMs were classified according to Prechtl’s general movement assessment method (GMA) and by computer-based video analysis. The variability of the centroid of motion (C_SD), derived from differences between subsequent video frames, was calculated by means of computer-based video analysis software; group mean differences between GM periods were reported. Results: The mean variability of the centroid of motion (C_SD) determined by computer-based video analysis was 7.5% lower during the period of fidgety GMs than during the period of writhing GMs (p = 0.004). Conclusion: Our findings support that the variability of the centroid of motion reflects small and variable movements evenly distributed across the body, and hence shows that computer-based video analysis qualifies for assessment of direction and amplitude of FMs in young infants.

KEYWORDS:

• General movement assessment
• Fidgety movements
• Computerized GM assessment
• Cerebral palsy

Acknowledgments

We are very grateful to the staff at the Rehabilitation Department of the Children’s Hospital of Fudan University. We also want to thank all the families that participated in the study. Special thanks to Professor Christa Einspieler for bringing the first and second authors together and thus laying the ground for this study.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

Funding

This study was supported by the Department of Clinical Services and Department of Pediatrics of St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Norway, and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), and The Natural Science Fund of Shanghai (project number: 12ZR1403600). These institutions had no involvement in the composition of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Department of Clinical Services and Department of Pediatrics of St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Norway, and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), and The Natural Science Fund of Shanghai (project number: 12ZR1403600). These institutions had no involvement in the composition of the article.