General movements assessment, part I: Prechtl’s method – the current state of knowledge based on a scoping review

Abstract

Advances in pre- and postnatal care have resulted in increased survival rates of infants in risk groups. Consequently, a growing number of children need interdisciplinary care and early intervention in the first stages of life. Early detection of developmental abnormalities may allow for a more effective therapy. Observation of motor and behavioural skills is one of the crucial elements in the assessment of child’s development. Prechtl’s assessment of general movements is used in the first six months of a child’s life. It enables the identification and prediction of neurodevelopmental disorders. The aim of the study was to present Prechtl’s method and summarise knowledge about this approach based on a literature review of PubMed medical database. The key issues related to the assessment procedure, including reliability, consistency and compliance of the method, as well as its use for predicting neurodevelopmental disorders were discussed. Additionally, combined use of the tool with neuroimaging methods for assessing neuromotor development, and knowledge of the use of novel technologies for automatization of the general movements assessment were summarised. Due to its non-invasiveness, availability, and ease of implementation, the method has a wide use in clinical practice. Prechtl’s method allows for a careful observation of the child’s motor skills and may allow both clinicians and parents for early identification of neurodevelopmental disorders.