Assessment of psychomotor development in infants at risk: a proposal for a standardized as-sessment protocol (IPDA)

Abstract

Starting point: Early identification of motor abnormalities in infancy is crucial for optimizing the timing of rehabilitation interventions and improving outcomes in children at risk of developing cerebral palsy (CP). Although several standardized tools are used in current clinical practice, no integrated protocol systematically links qualitative and quantitative parameters of psychomotor development.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to develop assessment protocol Integrated Psychomotor Development Assessment (IPDA), designed to objectively evaluate psychomotor development in infants at risk for CP and other neurodevelopmental disorders.

Methods:    IPDA was created for a multicenter randomized clinical trial comparing the effects of the Vojta method and its combination with the Stimulation Positioning on a Human (SPHu) concept. Its structure is based on principles of developmental neurokinesiology, pediatric neurology, and published evidence regarding predictive indicators of CP.

Results: IPDA protocol is designed as an integrated assessment framework encompassing multiple domains of psychomotor development, including gross motor function/spontaneous motor activity (GMFM-88), postural reactions, primitive reflexes, qualitative postural indicators, and developmental milestones. It allows for the calculation of a composite total score as the sum of the individual assessed domains.

Conclusions: IPDA is proposed as a standardized assessment protocol that extends existing diagnostic approaches through the integration of qualitative and quantitative motor parameters. Its clinical applicability and psychometric properties warrant further evaluation in validation studies.