Determine motor status of children with motor skills disorders using two scales of Bleck and Capute

Introduction: The motor prognosis of children with motor skills disorders is a major issue for their parents and the health professionals involved in their management. Prediction of prognosis in infancy is very difficult. Available and simple tests which can examine prognosis are Bleck infant’s reflexes and motor quotient of Capute. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between Bleck and Capute tests for determination of motor status of children with motor skills disorders. Methods: In this cross - sectional study, the sample consisted of 40 infants under 2 years of age with motor disorders who referred to occupational therapy clinics of Tehran University of Medical Sciences from 2011 to 2012. The infants were evaluated with Bleck and Capute tests. In Bleck scale, primitive reflexes were evaluated. Capute scale is based on motor quotient. The relationship between these tests was examined using Chi-Square and Kruscal Wallis tests. Results: In this study 40 infant (15 girls and 25 boys) with mean age of 15.43 months participated. Mean score of Capute scale was 38.80 ± 19.29 and 7.7% of infants were classified as good prognosis, 15.4% as guarded prognosis and 76.9% in poor prognosis. Based on Bleck Scale 17.5% of infants were in good prognosis category, 42.5% in guarded prognosis and 40% in poor prognosis. There was no significant correlation between Bleck and Capute tests. Conclusion: Although infant reflexes affect motor milestones and eventually determination of motor prognosis, but in this study there was no significant relationship between Bleck infant’s reflexes and motor quotient of Capute. Therefore it seems that these scales are not alone capable of predicting child's motor status and should be used together.