MIT-PB

How does this early intervention influence the neuromotor outcome of infants presenting abnormal General Movements?

Very preterm babies are at high risk for developmental disorders. A pattern of normal, i.e., fluent and variable spontaneous movements (General Movements; GMs) provides crucial afferent information for the developing nervous system. Although it is possible to identify a high risk for developmental disorders through Prechtls’ General Movements Assessment early in a preterm baby’s life, specific therapeutic interventions based on these findings have not yet been defined. Soloveichick et al. 2020 described the Movement Imitation Therapy for Preterm Babies (MIT-PB^TM) in a case report. MIT-PB^TM includes evidence based key elements of early intervention and brain development. It is a promising approach to improve the developmental outcome of preterm infants at risk based on imitation of normal GMs.

This two centers pilot prospective controlled intervention study aims to assess whether preterm infants born at <32 0/7 weeks’ gestation, who show abnormal, i.e., stiff and monotonous GMs at 33-34 weeks postmenstrual age differ in their neurodevelopmental outcome at three and 24 months corrected age depending on whether they were treated with usual care physiotherapy or additionally with MIT-PB^TM. Furthermore, the self-efficacy of the parents is assessed. Infants are recruited and compared at two Swiss level-lll perinatal centers: at the University Hospital of Zurich (intervention group: MIT-PB^TM and usual care physiotherapy) and at the Inselspital Bern, University of Bern (control group: usual care physiotherapy).

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Silke Scheufele, Marina Goedert, Stephanie Brezina, Denise Etzweiler (from left) at the poster presentation at the EUPPT 2024 in Zurich.

Project Lead

Prof. Dr. med. Giancarlo Natalucci

Stephanie Brezina, MSc Physiotherapie, Pädiatrie

Denise Etzweiler, MSc Physiotherapie, Pädiatrie

Marine Goedert, MSc Physiotherapie, Pädiatrie

Silke Scheufele, MSc Physiotherapie, Pädiatrie

Staff

Anjana Hauer, dipl. Physiotherapeutin BSc

Hildegard Franz, dipl. Physiotherapeutin BSc

Dr. sc. med. Elena Mitteregger, pädiatrische Physiotherapie

In cooperation with the Department of Neonatology, Institute of Physiotherapy and Department of Development and Rehabilitation at Inselspital - University Hospital Bern