Impact of Early Exposure to Play Materials on Motor Development in High-Risk Infants: A Randomised Controlled Trial
and | Jul 06, 2023
Article Category: Original Research
Published Online: Jul 06, 2023
Page range: 64 - 71
Received: May 30, 2022
Accepted: Mar 04, 2023
DOI: https://doi.org/10.34763/jmotherandchild.20232701.d-22-00025
Keywords
© 2023 Mrunmayi S Gadre et al., published by Sciendo
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Background
The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of early exposure to play materials on motor development in high-risk infants.
Materials and methods
A 1:1 parallel group randomised control study was conducted. A total of 36 participants were recruited, with 18 in each group. The intervention lasted 6 weeks for both groups, with follow-ups in the 2nd and 4th weeks. The Peabody Developmental Motor Scale 2nd Edition (PDMS-2) was used as an outcome measure. The data was analysed using the Likelihood Ratio test, Chi-square test, independent sample t-test, and paired t-test.
Results
There was no difference between the groups except for the raw reflex scores (t = 3.29, p = 0.002), raw stationary scores (t = 4.26, p < 0.001), standard stationary scores (t = 2.57, p = 0.015), and Gross Motor Quotient (GMQ) (t = 3.275, p = 0.002). Statistical significance within the experimental group was observed in the raw reflex (t = −5.16, p < 0.001), stationary (t = −10.5, p < 0.001), locomotion (t = −5.67, p < 0.001), grasp (t = −4.68, p < 0.001), and visual motor (t = −5.03, p < 0.001) scores, as well as the standard stationary (t = −2.87, p = 0.010), locomotion (t = −3.43, p = 0.003), grasp (t = −3.28, p = 0.004), and visual motor (t = −5.03, p < 0.001) scores. Quotients were the GMQ (t = −7.31, p < 0.001), Total Motor Quotient (TMQ) (t = −5.71, p < 0.001), Fine Motor Quotient (FMQ) (t = −6.48, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The current study concludes that a six-week treatment of early exposure to age-appropriate toys is advantageous in enhancing motor development in high-risk neonates.