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Background Most studies on Prechtl's method of assessing General Movements (GMA) in young infants originate in Europe. Aim To determine if motor behavior at an age of 3 months post term is associated with motor development at 12 months post age in VLBW infants in India. Methods 243 VLBW infants (135 boys, 108 girls; median gestational age 31wks, range 26–39wks) were video-recorded at a median age of 11wks post term (range 9–16wks). Certified and experienced observers assessed the videos by the “Assessment of Motor Repertoire – 2–5 Months”. Fidgety movements (FMs) were classified as abnormal if absent, sporadic or exaggerated, and as normal if intermittently or continually present. The motor behaviour was evaluated by repertoire of co-existent other movements (age-adequacy) and concurrent motor repertoire. In addition, videos of 215 infants were analyzed by computer and the variability of the spatial center of motion (C SD ) was calculated. The Peabody Developmental Motor Scales was used to assess motor development at 12 months. Results Abnormal FMs, reduced age adequacy, and an abnormal concurrent motor repertoire were significantly associated with lower Gross Motor and Total Motor Quotient (GMQ, TMQ) scores ( p < 0.05). The C SD was higher in children with TMQ scores <90 (-1SD) than in children with higher TMQ scores ( p = 0.002). Conclusion Normal FMs (assessed by Gestalt perception) and a low variability of the spatial center of motion (assessed by computer-based video analysis) predicted higher Peabody scores in 12-month-old infants born in India with a very low birth weight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: Absence of fidgety movements (FM) in high-risk infants is a strong marker for later cerebral palsy (CP). FMs can be classified by the General Movement Assessment (GMA), based on Gestalt perception of the infant''s movement pattern. More objective movement analysis may be provided by computer-based technology. The aim of this study was to explore the feasibility of a computer-based video analysis of infants'' spontaneous movements in classifying non-fidgety versus fidgety movements. Method: GMA was performed from video material of the fidgety period in 82 term and preterm infants at low and high risks of developing CP. The same videos were analysed using the developed software called General Movement Toolbox (GMT) with visualisation of the infant''s movements for qualitative analyses. Variables derived from the calculation of displacement of pixels from one video frame to the next were used for quantitative analyses. Results: Visual representations from GMT showed easily recognisable patterns of FMs. Of the eight quantitative variables derived, the variability in displacement of a spatial centre of active pixels in the image had the highest sensitivity (81.5) and specificity (70.0) in classifying FMs. By setting triage thresholds at 90% sensitivity and specificity for FM, the need for further referral was reduced by 70%. Conclusion: Video recordings can be used for qualitative and quantitative analyses of FMs provided by GMT. GMT is easy to implement in clinical practice, and may provide assistance in detecting infants without FMs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: A computer-based video analysis has recently been presented for quantitative assessment of general movements (GMs). This method's test-retest reliability, however, has not yet been evaluated.Aims: The aim of the current study was to evaluate the test-retest reliability of computer-based video analysis of GMs, and to explore the association between computer-based video analysis and the temporal organization of fidgety movements (FMs).Study Design: Test-retest reliability study.Subjects: 75 healthy, term-born infants were recorded twice the same day during the FMs period using a standardized video set-up.Outcome Measures: The computer-based movement variables "quantity of motion mean" (Qmean), "quantity of motion standard deviation" (QSD) and "centroid of motion standard deviation" (CSD) were analyzed, reflecting the amount of motion and the variability of the spatial center of motion of the infant, respectively. In addition, the association between the variable CSD and the temporal organization of FMs was explored. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC 1.1 and ICC 3.1) were calculated to assess test-retest reliability.Results: The ICC values for the variables CSD, Qmean and QSD were 0.80, 0.80 and 0.86 for ICC (1.1), respectively; and 0.80, 0.86 and 0.90 for ICC (3.1), respectively. There were significantly lower CSD values in the recordings with continual FMs compared to the recordings with intermittent FMs (p<0.05).Conclusion: This study showed high test-retest reliability of computer-based video analysis of GMs, and a significant association between our computer-based video analysis and the temporal organization of FMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]