Motor skills and outcomes of activities and participation in children and adults born preterm without cerebral palsy: A systematic review
Year: 2026
Type: review
Study design: Systematic Review
Abstract: AIM: To determine whether motor skills in children and adults born preterm (< 37 weeks' gestation) without cerebral palsy (CP) are associated with outcomes of activities and participation within the World Health Organization's International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). METHOD: A systematic search for original articles with full text available was conducted in MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science. We included observational studies of children and adults born preterm without CP reporting associations between motor skills and outcomes within the Activities and Participation component of the ICF. We excluded randomized controlled trials. Screening, data extraction, and quality assessment were performed by two independent researchers. RESULTS: Thirty-six original articles, published from 1988 to 2025, examined 56 associations between motor skills and outcomes of activities and participation. Most associations were reported with Chapter 1 'Learning and applying knowledge' and Chapter 2 'General tasks and demands'. Among the reported findings, 28 (50%) were positive, 10 (18%) were inconsistent, and 18 (32%) indicated no association. INTERPRETATION: This review of the available research shows that motor skills are associated with outcomes of activities and participation in children and adults without CP born preterm. Awareness of these associations could guide assessments and interventions.
DOI: 10.1111/dmcn.70242
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $5,300
OpenAlex ID: W7141317630