Infant Motor Profile

Physiotherapists or occupational therapist with experience in the treatment of infants and young children

Graduates

• know and understand the current leading theory of neuromotor development.
• understand the structure of the Infant Motor Profile.
• know the different IMP domains and can distinguish them.
• can perform the Infant Motor Profile correctly in practice.
• can evaluate and interpret the Infant Motor Profile.

The Infant Motor Profile (IMP) is a new video-based instrument to assess the motor development of infants aged 3 to 18 months based on video-recordings of spontaneous motor behaviour in supine, prone, sitting, standing, walking and during reaching and grasping. The IMP provides information about the infant's motor repertoire, its abilities to select adaptive motor strategies and about gross and fine motor achievement. It consists of five domains: movement variation, adaptability, performance, symmetry and fluency. Initial studies have shown good reliability and promising validity.

Subjects

• Theoretical background of the Infant Motor Profile
• Principles of motor development on the basis of the Neural Group Selection Theory
• Evaluation of the IMP based on video examples
• Implementation and evaluation of an IMP assessment with a child

Option
The course can be followed as part of the continuing education course focus on infants or CAS Specialities in Paediatric Physiotherapy.

Traditional and modern learning methods and media are used to ensure the best possible transfer of knowledge into professional practice: presentations, videos, joint assessment of IMP videos, practical presentation of the IMP on a child on site, discussions.

• Course dates 2027, course language English, online course
  7th and 8th May, 2027
  General teaching hours: 09.15 am - 17.15 pm (exceptions are possible)
• Frequency of offers: annual implementation
• Accomodation in Winterthur

Prof. Dr. Schirin Akhbari Ziegler
Silke Scheufele

• Physiotherapist or occupational therapist from a university of applied sciences or with a college degree
• Experience in  treating infants and young children
• Knowledge of German is an advantage (the language of instruction is English)

Essential reading: Manual Infant Motor Profile. Please order HERE in good time before the course starts. Costs: Hardback approx. CHF 100, Paperback/E-Book approx. CHF 25

The remaining course materials are included in the course fee and will be provided electronically. Purchasing additional specialist literature is optional and at the participants' own expense.