Neonatology

General Movements Assessment Course

Lead Speaker(s)

• 

  Mijna Hadders-Algra, MD, PhD

  Professor of Developmental Neurology
  University Medical Center Groningen, Beatrix Children's Hospital, Institute of Developmental Neurology

The course introduces the audience to General Movements Assessment (GMA), which is a video-based assessment method developed by Heinz Prechtl in the last decade of the last century. Ample evidence demonstrated that GMA is a powerful tool to identify infants at very high risk of developmental disorders, including cerebral palsy.
GMs consist of series of gross movements of variable speed and amplitude, involving all parts of the body but lacking distinctive sequencing of participating body parts. They are the most frequent spontaneous movements till 4-5 months post-term. The most salient features of typical GMs are movement variation and movement complexity. When movements become abnormal variation and complexity disappear. Especially the presence of definitely abnormal GMs indicates high risk of developmental disorders, in particular when present at 2-4 months postterm and when accompanied by the absence of the age-specific ‘fidgety’ movements.

Learning Objectives:

• Upon completion of this course, the learner will have gained knowledge about typical and atypical GMs.
• Upon completion of this course, the learner will have gained knowledge about the technique of GMA.
• Upon completion of this course, the learner will have gained knowledge about the psychometric properties of GMA.
• Upon completion of this course, the learner will have obtained practical experience in GMA.