Effectiveness of a training program for the acquisition of motor milestones in infants: a randomized clinical trial
Abstract Background In infants, the acquisition of all motor milestones is considered an expression of correct motor development during the first months of life. An association between typical motor development of the newborn and cognitive areas has been established. Few studies have evaluated the e...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Italian Journal of Pediatrics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13052-025-01849-4 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832571455424954368 |
|---|---|
| author | Luis Fernández-Sola Beatriz Cano-Díez Yessica Pons-Solaz Begoña Vera-Egido Sergio Moreno-González |
| author_facet | Luis Fernández-Sola Beatriz Cano-Díez Yessica Pons-Solaz Begoña Vera-Egido Sergio Moreno-González |
| author_sort | Luis Fernández-Sola |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background In infants, the acquisition of all motor milestones is considered an expression of correct motor development during the first months of life. An association between typical motor development of the newborn and cognitive areas has been established. Few studies have evaluated the efficiency of parents’ knowledge of expected milestones in healthy infants. This study aims to determine whether parents’ knowledge of specific tasks can improve the achievement of all gross motor milestones in the newborn. Method The current study examined gross motor development in term-born infants without pathologies at 9, 12, and 15 months and the effectiveness of a training program developed for parents. The research group comprised 82 full-term infants divided into an experimental group (EG) and a control group (CG) of 41 subjects each. A randomized clinical trial study was performed. The routine follow-up program consisted of four informative sessions on the experimental group at the beginning of each trimester with information about the expected motor milestones and how to stimulate their infants to achieve them. The gross motor development of the participants was measured using the Alberta Infant Motor Scale. An ANCOVA test was performed to assess the possible influence of sex, type of birth, or the presence of siblings controlled and uncontrolled as confounding variables on the results. Results The initial baseline assessment showed no statistical differences between groups (p > 0,05). After controlling confounding variables, at 9 months the EG scored 5,5 points higher than the CG (p < 0,001). At 12 months, EG scored 3,7 points higher than CG (p < 0,001). At 15 months, EG scored 2,2 points higher than CG (p = 0,001). The experimental group scored significantly higher, with a 25-point higher percentile in each assessment. Conclusion A learning program aimed at increasing parents’ knowledge of their infant´s gross motor development improved it. The information collected will help professionals who support parents in monitoring their babies. Future studies using larger sample sizes, analysing other domains of global infant development, or investigating the possible influence of other parental factors are recommended. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT04693494. Registered December 28, 2020, retrospectively registered. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04693494 . |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-81b5768c497c43cabb3f3f5dccae1428 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1824-7288 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Italian Journal of Pediatrics |
| spelling | doaj-art-81b5768c497c43cabb3f3f5dccae14282025-02-02T12:34:55ZengBMCItalian Journal of Pediatrics1824-72882025-01-0151111010.1186/s13052-025-01849-4Effectiveness of a training program for the acquisition of motor milestones in infants: a randomized clinical trialLuis Fernández-Sola0Beatriz Cano-Díez1Yessica Pons-Solaz2Begoña Vera-Egido3Sergio Moreno-González4Health Sciences Faculty, San Jorge UniversityMedicine Faculty, San Pablo CEU University, CEU UniversitiesNiddo Fisioterapia y Espacio de CrianzaNuestra Señora de Gracia HospitalHealth Sciences Faculty, San Jorge UniversityAbstract Background In infants, the acquisition of all motor milestones is considered an expression of correct motor development during the first months of life. An association between typical motor development of the newborn and cognitive areas has been established. Few studies have evaluated the efficiency of parents’ knowledge of expected milestones in healthy infants. This study aims to determine whether parents’ knowledge of specific tasks can improve the achievement of all gross motor milestones in the newborn. Method The current study examined gross motor development in term-born infants without pathologies at 9, 12, and 15 months and the effectiveness of a training program developed for parents. The research group comprised 82 full-term infants divided into an experimental group (EG) and a control group (CG) of 41 subjects each. A randomized clinical trial study was performed. The routine follow-up program consisted of four informative sessions on the experimental group at the beginning of each trimester with information about the expected motor milestones and how to stimulate their infants to achieve them. The gross motor development of the participants was measured using the Alberta Infant Motor Scale. An ANCOVA test was performed to assess the possible influence of sex, type of birth, or the presence of siblings controlled and uncontrolled as confounding variables on the results. Results The initial baseline assessment showed no statistical differences between groups (p > 0,05). After controlling confounding variables, at 9 months the EG scored 5,5 points higher than the CG (p < 0,001). At 12 months, EG scored 3,7 points higher than CG (p < 0,001). At 15 months, EG scored 2,2 points higher than CG (p = 0,001). The experimental group scored significantly higher, with a 25-point higher percentile in each assessment. Conclusion A learning program aimed at increasing parents’ knowledge of their infant´s gross motor development improved it. The information collected will help professionals who support parents in monitoring their babies. Future studies using larger sample sizes, analysing other domains of global infant development, or investigating the possible influence of other parental factors are recommended. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT04693494. Registered December 28, 2020, retrospectively registered. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04693494 .https://doi.org/10.1186/s13052-025-01849-4Alberta Infant Motor ScaleTraining programMotor developmentMotor milestones |
| spellingShingle | Luis Fernández-Sola Beatriz Cano-Díez Yessica Pons-Solaz Begoña Vera-Egido Sergio Moreno-González Effectiveness of a training program for the acquisition of motor milestones in infants: a randomized clinical trial Italian Journal of Pediatrics Alberta Infant Motor Scale Training program Motor development Motor milestones |
| title | Effectiveness of a training program for the acquisition of motor milestones in infants: a randomized clinical trial |
| title_full | Effectiveness of a training program for the acquisition of motor milestones in infants: a randomized clinical trial |
| title_fullStr | Effectiveness of a training program for the acquisition of motor milestones in infants: a randomized clinical trial |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effectiveness of a training program for the acquisition of motor milestones in infants: a randomized clinical trial |
| title_short | Effectiveness of a training program for the acquisition of motor milestones in infants: a randomized clinical trial |
| title_sort | effectiveness of a training program for the acquisition of motor milestones in infants a randomized clinical trial |
| topic | Alberta Infant Motor Scale Training program Motor development Motor milestones |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13052-025-01849-4 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT luisfernandezsola effectivenessofatrainingprogramfortheacquisitionofmotormilestonesininfantsarandomizedclinicaltrial AT beatrizcanodiez effectivenessofatrainingprogramfortheacquisitionofmotormilestonesininfantsarandomizedclinicaltrial AT yessicaponssolaz effectivenessofatrainingprogramfortheacquisitionofmotormilestonesininfantsarandomizedclinicaltrial AT begonaveraegido effectivenessofatrainingprogramfortheacquisitionofmotormilestonesininfantsarandomizedclinicaltrial AT sergiomorenogonzalez effectivenessofatrainingprogramfortheacquisitionofmotormilestonesininfantsarandomizedclinicaltrial |