Motor Control Interventions

What is the Task-Oriented Training in motor control interventions?

Focuses on high-intensity, repetitive practice of functional tasks tailored to the patient’s goals, promoting neuroplasticity, and recovery of motor function.

How does TOT encourage neuroplasticity?

Provides a “just-right challenge” through repeated functional practice, which remodels brain pathways and supports recovery after injury.

What are the 10 principles of neuroplasticity? 

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Use it or Lose it

Use it or Improve it

Specificity

Repetition

Intensity

Time

Salience

Age

Transference

Interference

Use it or Lose it principle

Failure to drive brain functions can to lead to functional degradation

Use it or Improve it principle

Training that drives a specific brain function can lead to enhancement of that function

Specificity principle

The nature of the training experience dictates the nature of the plasticity

Repetition matters

Induction of neural plasticity requires repetition

intensity matters

induction of plasticity requires sufficient training intensity

Time matters

different forms of plasticity occur during different times during training

Salience matters

The training experience must be sufficiently salient to induce plasticity

Age matters

training-induced plasticity occurs more readily in younger brains

transference

plasticity in response to one training experience can enhance the acquisition of similar behaviors

Interference

plasticity in response to one experience can interfere with the acquisition of other behaviors

What is TOT used to improve?

UE function, balance and mobility, and performance of ADLs

if a patient has significant impairments in voluntary motor function, what should TOT be combined with?

Cognitive strategies or technology

what is mental practice in motor control rehab

Mental practice involves cognitively rehearsing actions without physical movements, activating the same brain areas as physical practice.

What is mirror therapy?

Uses visual stimulation by hiding the impaired limb and having the patient move the unimpaired limb while focusing on its reflection, helping to retraining motor pathways

Describe action observation as a motor intervention

Action observation involves watching another person perform a task to encourage imitation and motor recovery, especially after CNS

How is virtual reality in motor rehabilitation?

VR creates computer-based simulations for practicing functional activities, offering varying degrees of immersion

What role do robotics play in OT for motor dysfunction?

Robotics can support limb movement through passive or assisted joint action, allowing graded progression of resistance and movement force in therapy

What technologies assist with paresis and movement fractionation?

EMG biofeedback and electrostimulation help patients recruit or control weak muscle groups by providing auditory or visual feedback during practice

How are muscle tone changes managed in motor control intervention?

Neurophysiokogical methods are used to inhibit or facilitate muscle tone based on sensory inouts

What are hyperkinetic disorders?

Ataxia, chorea, hemiballismus, tic, and tremorsq

What are hypokinetic disorders?

Bradykinesia and Parkinsonian symptoms

What is motor apraxia?

The loss of access to motor plans, resulting in inability to perform purposeful movements despite understanding the task

What is cognitive strategy training for apraxia?

Focuses on teaching internal/external compensatory strategies for task initiation, execution, and control, addressing observed errors in daily performance.

Describe gesture training for apraxia

gesture training uses exercises in producing transitive, intransitive and nonsympbolic gestures to improve ideational and ideomotor skills.