The Infant Motor Profile (IMP) is an instrument to assess motor development in infancy. It is a video-based assessment for infants aged 3 to 18 months, or rather until the age of walking independently for a few months. It is based on a video of about 15 minutes of spontaneous motor behaviour in supine, prone, sitting, standing, walking and during reaching and grasping – depending on the age of the infant. The IMP does not only include information about the infant’s motor achievement but also information about the way in which the infant accomplishes his/her achievements. The qualitative aspects of the assessment are based on the principles of the Neuronal Group Selection Theory (NGST). This means that key parameters in IMP assessment are the size of the infant’s motor repertoire (sufficiently variable or not; 25 items) and the infant’s ability to make an adaptive selection out of his/her repertoire (15 items). Other domains are performance (23 items), symmetry (10 items) and fluency (7 items). Studies indicate that the IMP is an instrument with good reliability and promising validity.
(Paediatric) physiotherapists, occupational therapists, paediatricians, neonatologists, paediatric neurologists and paediatric physiatrists
Study load: The number of contact hours (2 days) is 12, the number of self-study hours is 20 (study the articles and practice with the Manual). At the end of day two there is a final test session. Participants receive a certificate.
Language
The official language during the conference is English. No simultaneous translation will be provided.
The course starts with the theoretical background of the IMP. Thereafter ample time will be devoted to practice, mostly on the basis of existing video recordings, but also on the basis of newly made video recordings.
Day 1
09.00 Welcome and registration
09.15 Principles of typical and atypical motor development (NGST)
10.30 Coffee break
11.00 Introduction of the Infant Motor Profile (IMP)
12.15 Lunch
13.15 Practice: IMP Videos of infants aged 4-6 Months
14.30 Coffee/tea break
14.45 Assessment of an infant; IMP scoring on basis of the video recording
15.45 Coffee/tea break
16.00 Practice: IMP Videos of infants aged 7-12 Months
Day 2
09:00 Welcome and registration
09.15 Repetition of Day 1
09.45 Practice: IMP Videos of infants aged 12-18 months
10.45 Coffee break
11.05 Practice: IMP Videos of infants aged 4-6 months
12.15 Lunch
13.15 Assessment of an infant. IMP scoring on basis of the video recording
14.30 Coffee/tea break
14.50 Application of the IMP in Research and practice / IMP Videos of infants aged 10-18 months
15.50 Coffee/tea break
16.05 Test
16.45 End of the course
Location
The two-day course will be held at the University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, Groningen, The Netherlands. Conference room: MVC Building, 3.09.
At the end of day two there is a final test session.
Dr. Kirsten Heineman, MD, PhD, is a practicing pediatric neurologist as well as a post-doctoral researcher at the Institute for Developmental Neurology, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands.
Dr. Tjitske Hielkema is a practicing child rehabilitation doctor in the University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands and is involved in research in the field of pediatric rehabilitation.
CME: Continuing Medical Education credits (12 points) is organized for professionals belonging to the Koninklijk Genootschap voor Fysiotherapie.
Wenckebach Instituut for Education and Training in cooperation with the department developmental neurology of the University Medical Center Groningen
The registration fee for participants is €595,- per person. Costs may be subject to change. This price includes coffee, tea, lunches, and a reader.
To prepare for the course, the participant should read the first chapters of 'The Infant Motor Profile'; a practical manual on a new, evidence-based method to assess infant motor behaviour. Please be aware that as a participant you need to order the IMP manual yourself. ISBN book: ISBN 9780367358112. Click here to order the IMP manual.
You can sign up until 7 September 2026.
Cancellation
Cancellation of your registration is possible before 7 September 2026, with a full refund minus a € 20,- handling fee.
Cancellation after 7 September 2026: no refund possible.
Wenckebach Instituut voor Onderwijs en Opleiden
Centrum Bij- en Nascholing
(t) 06 - 52 59 66 83 (e) [email protected]
