Long-term motor outcomes after parent-administered early physiotherapy in children born very preterm.

Henriette Paulsen; Tordis Ustad; Kristina Anna Djupvik Aakvik; Silje Dahl Benum; Marit S&#xf8;rvoll; Gay Girolami; Suzann K Campbell; Gunn Kristin &#xd8;berg; Kari Anne I Evensen

doi:10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2026.106615

PubMed · 42361518

Long-term motor outcomes after parent-administered early physiotherapy in children born very preterm.

Henriette Paulsen·Tordis Ustad·Kristina Anna Djupvik Aakvik·Silje Dahl Benum·Marit Sørvoll·Gay Girolami·Suzann K Campbell·Gunn Kristin Øberg·Kari Anne I Evensen

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This observational follow-up study investigated whether early parent-administered physiotherapy during the neonatal period was associated with motor outcomes in childhood, and compared these outcomes between two preterm groups and a term-born control group. STUDY DESIGN: This is a follow-up of a pragmatic randomised controlled trial that initially included 153 infants born very preterm (≤32 weeks' gestation), randomised to either early parent-administered physiotherapy or standard care, between 34 and 37 weeks' gestation. At 7-10 years, motor outcomes were assessed in 92 children (intervention, n = 43; standard care, n = 49) and in 83 term-born controls. The primary outcome was the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-Second Edition (MABC-2). Group differences were analysed using linear mixed models adjusted for age, sex, and parental education. Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated for scores ≤5th and ≤ 15th percentiles to estimate the likelihood of having or being at risk for movement difficulties. RESULTS: Mean MABC-2 total score was 9.0 (SD3.0) in the intervention group, 9.6 (SD3.0) in the standard care group, and 10.8 (SD2.9) in the control group. Adjusted mean difference between the intervention and the standard care groups did not differ but both the intervention and standard care groups had lower scores than the control group (-1.2; 95% CI: -2.3 to -0.2 and -0.6; 95% CI: -1.6 to 0.3, respectively). Adjusted ORs for scoring ≤5th or ≤15th percentile did not differ in either preterm group compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: At 7-10 years, motor outcomes did not differ between children born very preterm who received three-week parent-administered physiotherapy and those who received standard care during the neonatal period. However, both preterm groups had lower motor scores than term-born peers.

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Humans Female Physical Therapy Modalities Infant, Newborn Infant, Extremely Premature Child Male Parents Motor Skills Child Development Follow-Up Studies Early intervention Motor outcomes Parent-administered Physiotherapy Preterm Journal Article Randomized Controlled Trial Pragmatic Clinical Trial

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Henriette Paulsen, Tordis Ustad, Kristina Anna Djupvik Aakvik, Silje Dahl Benum, Marit Sørvoll, Gay Girolami, Suzann K Campbell, Gunn Kristin Øberg, Kari Anne I Evensen. 2026-06-18. Long-term motor outcomes after parent-administered early physiotherapy in children born very preterm.. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2026.106615

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Child subject Female subject Follow-Up Studies subject Humans subject Infant, Newborn subject Journal Article subject Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial; Pragmatic Clinical Trial resource Male subject Randomized controlled trials study

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