Abstract: Objective To investigate the effect of early intervention on general movements (GM) in preterm infants during fidgety movement. Methods 315 preterm infants during fidgety movement period were divided into intervention group (n=160) and control group (n= 155). The intervention group accepted very early intervention program consisted of hospital intervention and family intervention, and the control group accepted routine treatment and nursing. The incidences of different kinds of GMs were compared. Results There is no statistical difference (χ2=0.641, P=0.726) in writhing movement before intervention, and the fidgety movement presented more in the intervention group than in the control group (χ2=8.710, P=0.003), while the absence of fidgety movement was significantly fewer (χ2=5.685, P=0.017) after intervention. Conclusion Very early intervention can reduce the incidence of absence of fidgety movement and improve fidgety movement.

Key words: preterm infants, early intervention, fidgety movement, general movements