Functional movement assessment with the Test of Infant Motor Performance

The purpose of this article is to review research on the Test of Infant Motor Performance, a functional assessment of movement capabilities with age standards for infants from 34 weeks postmenstrual age through 17 weeks post term (corrected age). The Test of Infant Motor Performance was normed on a U.S. population-based sample to support its use as a tool for diagnosing delayed motor development in early infancy. The test is one of the preferred methods for parents of babies in special care nurseries to learn about their infant's development. The test was used in a variety of clinical trials to document effects of early therapy and can be used as a short-term outcome measure for other interventions expected to impact functional motor performance.