Motor organization in very low birth weight infants during caregiving: Effects of a developmental intervention

The purpose of this study was to determine whether an individualized approach to handling very low birth weight (VLBW) infants designed to support development would result in less motor disorganization than the task-oriented approach in traditional use. Using a quasi-experimental crossover design, motor responses were investigated in 38 infants (less than or equal to 1700 g, 53% male, 89% white) observed at 28, 32, and 36 weeks post-conceptional age. Subjects served as their own controls. Motor responses were coded from direct observation and videotapes. Results demonstrated that during developmental handling, (1) the overall amount of movement was less, the number of organized movements was greater, and the number of disorganized movements was less than during traditional handling; and (2) the amount of movement increased over time, but in the traditional condition, it peaked at 32 weeks. Results support positive effects of developmental handling and suggest the potential for reducing the prevalence of minor motor impairments in VLBW infants.