Implementation of telerehabilitation includes neuromotor assessment and intervention for preterm infants

Preterm infants are at increased risk for motor problems. Early intervention in these infants is crucial for improving outcomes by taking advantage of neuroplasticity. Telerehabilitation may provide an alternative approach to overcome barriers to accessing early rehabilitation services. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility and short-term outcomes of a telerehabilitation program on motor development in preterm infants. This prospective interventional study included preterm infants at 9–17 weeks of corrected age. The Motor Optimality Score – Revised (MOS-R) was used to screening infants and assign them to subgroups. Motor function was assessed using the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS). Based on these assessments, and in collaboration with parents, an individualized home-based telerehabilitation program was developed to support motor development. The program was implemented by parents for 30 minutes a day, at least four days a week, for three months. The proportion of infants who completed the program was used to determine feasibility. The effect of the intervention was evaluated using pre- and post-intervention AIMS scores and percentiles. Of the 103 preterm infants included in the study, 92 (35 female, 57 male) (89.3%) completed the program. The reasons for not completing the program were ongoing medical problems and lack of time. Significant differences with large effect sizes were observed between pre- and post-intervention AIMS total scores and positional subscale scores in all infants, mildly reduced MOS-R, and moderately reduced MOS-R categories (p < .05, r > 0.75). The proportion of infants in the 0th–10th percentile category of the AIMS decreased in all infants group and mildly reduced MOS-R group. Telerehabilitation is feasible for infants with different levels of neurodevelopmental risk. Infant-related medical issues, infants’ neurodevelopmental characteristics, and parental time constraints may represent potential barriers to its feasibility. Additionally, telerehabilitation may have been associated with improvements in infants’ gross motor development. Telerehabilitation for Preterm Infants, NCT07068386, https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07068386?cond=NCT07068386&rank=1