Abstract
Quality of spontaneous movements was studied in 15 healthy full-term appropriate for
gestational age (AGA) and in 15 full-term small-for gestational age (SGA) newborn
infants. All general movements with a minimal duration of 20 seconds were judged on
different aspects of movement quality From the general movements in each group (AGA:
n = 106; SGA: n = 187), dominant patterns were isolated.
In the AGA Group 3 dominant patterns of general movements were present. In the SGA
Group 5 dominant patterns of general movements were found. Three of those were identical
to the movement patterns in the AGA group, the remaining two patterns were unique
for the SGA infants.
Our results indicate that the three different types of general movements which constitute
the major part of the normal repertoire of healthy full-term infants can be used as
a reference for normal spontaneous motor behaviour. The two different types of general
movements in the SGA infants might be used to discriminate between healthy and neurologically
suspect newborn infants. The difference in movement pattern between AGA and SGA infants
might be explained by the effect of intrauterine malnutrition on CNS development.
Key words
Quality of movement - Small for gestational age infants - Full-term infants - Intrauterine
growth retardation