Movement Imitation Therapy v/s Standard Care in Very Preterm and Extreme Preterm Neonates: A Randomised Controlled Trial (MOTIVE trial)

The MOTIVE trial is a randomized controlled study comparing Movement Imitation Therapy (MIT) to standard care in very preterm and extreme preterm neonates. Conducted at Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, the study aims to assess the impact of MIT on neurodevelopmental outcomes using the General Movement Optimality Score-Revised (GMOS-R) at 34 weeks post-menstrual age (PMA). The trial will involve stratified randomization of eligible preterm neonates, with MIT sessions incorporating guided limb movements mimicking normal general body movements. Secondary outcomes include GMOS-R at 5 months of corrected age, MRI/Neurosonogram findings at term-equivalent age, and the Hammersmith Neonatal Neurological Examination (HNNE) scores. The study follows ethical guidelines, ensuring informed parental consent and confidentiality, with blinded outcome assessment to minimize bias.