Effect of a period of tactile kinetic stimulation on the motor development quotient of preterm neonates: 4-month follow-up

More than half a century, studies reported about strong association between preterm birth and development disorders. Therefore, the aim of this study was to follow the effect of a period of tactile kinetic simulations on motor development quotient in preterm neonates.

So, among all of Iranian neonates healthy and preterm of Amiralmomenin hospital neonatal unit of Semnan city, 40 neonates selected purposefully and divided into experimental and control groups (20 person each group). Then, mothers of the experimental group conducted tactile kinetic stimulations on neonates to completion of the fetal period (40 weeks gestation) for 20 minutes and three times a day whereas the control group received only usual care. Peabody Development Motor Scale test was used to measure motor development quotient.

The results showed that tactile kinetic stimulations led to significant improvement in motor development quotient of neonates in the experimental group as measured in the end of intervention and after 4 months compared to the control group.

It can be concluded that tactile kinetic stimulation can allow cost and stable way in order to increase motor development of preterm infants.