Standardization of the Alberta infant motor scale in full-term Greek infants: Preliminary results D. Syrengelas a, ⁎, T. Siahanidou b , G. Kourlaba c , P. Kleisiouni a , C. Bakoula b , G.P. Chrousos b a Department of Pediatric Physical Therapy, “Aghia Sophia” Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece b First Department of Pediatrics, Athens University Medical School, Athens, Greece c Department of Nutrition–Dietetics, Harokopio University of Athens, Athens, Greece abstract article info Article history: Received 6 December 2009 Received in revised form 20 March 2010 Accepted 30 March 2010 Available online xxxx Keywords: AIMS Infant motor assessment Motor skills Diagnostic test Background: The Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) is a norm-referenced test that assesses the spontaneous motor performance of infants from birth through independent walking (0–18 months). This scale has been utilized for clinical and research purposes in various countries, however, whether the initial standardization in Canadian infants is also representative of other countries' populations has been questioned. Aim: To assess whether the AIMS needs new reference values for Greek infants. Methods: A cohort of 424 healthy full-term infants (250 boys and 174 girls), aged between 7 days and 18 months, derived from various areas of the Prefecture of Attica and from all socio-economic classes to ensure a true representation, was studied. The AIMS-scores of Greek infants were compared with the norm- referenced values of the original Canadian population reported by Piper and Darrah. Results: The mean AIMS-scores did not differ significantly between Greek and Canadian infants at any age level from birth to 18 months, except for the 2–b3 month of age when higher scores were observed in Greek infants (p = 0.02). There was no significant difference in AIMS-values corresponding to the 5th and 90th percentile between Greek and Canadian infants. Inter-rater reliability was excellent in our study population [ICC: 0.99 (95% CI: 0.99–0.99)]. Conclusion: In healthy full-term Greek infants, gross motor maturity assessed by the AIMS during the first 18 months of age, seems to follow a similar course to that of Canadian infants. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction The Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) is a norm-referenced test that assesses, via observation, the spontaneous motor performance of infants from birth through independent walking (0–18 months). The scale was established in the early nineties in Alberta, Canada, by Piper and Darrah. Its application is simple and the results are easy to interpret. It has been designed to assess gross motor maturation, to trace motor retardation and to identify infants that might benefit from early intervention. In addition, the AIMS may also be useful in designing and monitoring a treatment program [1–4]. The scale has been used in many studies throughout the world to evaluate motor development in various groups of full-term and premature infants and also to investigate the influence of various factors on infants' motor development, such as prematurity degree [5–9], breech or cephalic presentation of the infant [10], congenital torticolis [11,12], plagiocephaly [13,14], hypoxic–ischemic encepha- lopathy [15], usage of aids at home (infant seat, highchair, exersaucer, etc.) [16], as well as the effectiveness of enzyme replacement therapy in neuromuscular Pompe disease of infantile onset [17,18]. Despite the fact that the AIMS has been broadly utilized in various countries, the question remains as to whether the original scores of Canadian infants also represents the AIMS-scores of infants in other countries [19,20]. In addition, the normative data of the AIMS must be re- examined, as the original norms were collected before the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) “back to sleep” campaigns. These campaigns instigated new studies regarding the relationship between supine positioning and infants' motor development. It has been indicated that motor abilities of young infants may be different as the result to the change of the handling practices. More specifically, a positive association between prone positioning while awake during the day and the achievement of infant's motor milestones has been shown, whereas infants may exhibit early motor lags because of less time in prone position [21–23]. The aim of this study was to assess whether the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) needs new reference values for contemporary Greek infants. Early Human Development xxx (2010) xxx–xxx ⁎ Corresponding author. E-mail address: syreggelas@yahoo.com (D. Syrengelas). EHD-03247; No of Pages 5 0378-3782/$ – see front matter © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2010.03.009 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Early Human Development journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/earlhumdev ARTICLE IN PRESS Please cite this article as: Syrengelas D, et al, Standardization of the Alberta infant motor scale in full-term Greek infants: Preliminary results, Early Hum Dev (2010), doi:10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2010.03.009