Perinatal Kinesiology (KPN)

Presentation

Perinatal Kinesiology (KPN) is a specialized branch of kinesiology that specifically addresses the period surrounding birth: pregnancy, delivery, postpartum and early infant development. This approach recognizes the perinatal period as a critical developmental window during which the foundations of physical, emotional and relational health are laid. KPN uses adapted muscle testing techniques and specific rebalancing protocols to support mother and baby through this period of profound transformation.

Developed primarily by European kinesiologists, including Elisabeth Wolf in Germany and French practitioners specializing in perinatal support, KPN draws on prenatal and perinatal psychology (William Emerson, David Chamberlain, Thomas Verny), educational kinesiology and gentle body approaches. It integrates knowledge from embryology, pregnancy physiology and early attachment within a kinesiological framework. KPN operates on the principle that the baby is a sentient and conscious being from conception, and that experiences in utero and during birth leave deep imprints in the nervous system and cellular memory.

Fundamental Principles

The first principle is cellular memory: every cell retains imprints of experiences, particularly from the prenatal period and birth. Conception conditions, the mother's emotional experiences during pregnancy, delivery circumstances and the first hours of life create "programs" influencing later development. The second principle concerns the mother-baby energetic bond: mother and baby form a unified energetic system during pregnancy, connected not only physically but also energetically through meridians and the bioenergetic field. The third principle is adapted muscle testing: during pregnancy, testing is gentle and non-invasive; for infants, indirect testing techniques are used (testing the mother while she holds her baby, or surrogate testing). The fourth principle is birth imprint repair: identifying critical birth moments that left traces and transforming their impact through guided repatterning.

Technical Details

Full name

Perinatal Kinesiology (KPN)

Founders and developers

Elisabeth Wolf (Germany), French perinatal kinesiologists

Origin

Europe (Germany, France, Switzerland)

Development period

1990s-2000s

Therapeutic family

Specialized kinesiology, holistic perinatal support

Session duration

60 to 90 minutes (mother) / 30 to 45 minutes (infant)

Recommended frequency

Pregnancy: 1 session per month / Postpartum: as needed / Infant: 2 to 4 sessions

Target audience

Pregnant women, new mothers, infants, couples trying to conceive

Required training

Basic kinesiology training + perinatal kinesiology specialization

Main Indications

• Pregnancy-related stress and anxiety
• Energetic and emotional birth preparation
• Birth-related fears (tokophobia)
• Persistent pregnancy nausea and discomfort
• Threatened premature labor (complementary to medical care)
• Baby positioning difficulties (breech, transverse)
• Support after difficult or traumatic birth
• Baby blues and postpartum emotional difficulties
• Attachment and mother-baby bonding difficulties
• Breastfeeding problems without identified organic cause
• Infant sleep disturbances
• Excessive crying and infant colic
• Newborn agitation and regulation difficulties
• Birth trauma (emergency cesarean, instrumental delivery)
• Unexplained infertility and assisted reproduction support
• Perinatal grief and miscarriage

Session Process

A perinatal kinesiology session begins with an in-depth interview exploring pregnancy or birth history. For pregnant women, the practitioner gathers information about pregnancy progression, emotional state, fears, birth projections, previous obstetric history and family context. For infants, the history details pregnancy conditions, delivery and first days of life.

Adapted muscle testing follows: for pregnant women, tests are performed seated or in side-lying position avoiding abdominal pressure. For infants, the mother settles comfortably with her baby against her, creating the energetic circuit for indirect testing. The practitioner asks targeted questions and tests the mother's indicator muscle for mother-baby system responses.

Rebalancing uses gentle adapted techniques: light acupressure, guided visualizations, emotional release techniques, gentle movements, sounds and rocking. For birth imprints, the practitioner may offer a "reparative birth narrative" where mother and baby are guided to symbolically relive birth under optimal conditions, allowing the nervous system to reprogram associated patterns. The session concludes with integration time and personalized recommendations.

Variations and Sub-techniques

• Preconception Kinesiology: supporting couples trying to conceive, clearing emotional and energetic blocks, transgenerational work
• Pregnancy Kinesiology: monthly follow-up balancing physical and emotional changes each trimester
• Birth Kinesiology: support during labor (in certain contexts), immediate postpartum rebalancing
• Infant Kinesiology: working on birth imprints, regulation disorders and attachment difficulties
• Reparative Birth Narrative: specific technique for reprogramming birth imprints through guided narration and touch
• Perinatal Grief Kinesiology: specific support for grief after miscarriage or neonatal loss

Contraindications

• Pathological pregnancy requiring strict bed rest (medical care takes priority)
• Acute threatened premature labor (medical stabilization first)
• Identified fetal distress (medical emergency)
• Undiagnosed severe postpartum depression (referral to psychiatric care)
• Puerperal psychosis (absolute contraindication, psychiatric emergency)
• KPN never replaces obstetric medical care and does not substitute for any prenatal examination
• Never delay urgent medical consultation for a kinesiology session