In Focus

General Movements Assessment in Infants

The General Movements Assessment is a non–invasive, sensitive and highly predictive method for early detection of neurological disorders that can lead to cerebral palsy and other developmental disorders. This assessment is performed on babies born prematurely and those with multiple risk factors for atypical neurodevelopment. The assessment is based on a 3–5–minute video recording of the baby made during a hospital visit or at home with the parents’ written consent. The baby should lie on its back in a diaper (or bodysuit, with their arms and legs free) and be awake and calm. Children at a high risk for developing cerebral palsy can be identified by analyzing the child’s general movements. These children are then enrolled in an early habilitation treatment program and provided team–based medical monitoring, potentially leading to better outcomes for the child and its family.

In order to improve early detection of neurodevelopmental disorders, the Special Hospital for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Neurology plans to open a department for the implementation of the infant general movement assessment technique, which will be led by our physiatrist, Dubravka Radulović, M.D., who is qualified in the application of this method. Dubravka Radulović, M.D., has been applying Prechtl’s method for General Movements Assessment since 2016 when she completed the basic course in Pisa, Italy, and continued her education at the neonatal department of the University of Graz in 2017 under the mentorship of Jasmin Pansy, M.D. In 2023, she completed advanced training in Berlin under the mentorship of professor Christae Einspieler. She regularly participates in supervisory meetings organized by the Ottenstein Academy.