Motor Control & Motor Learning Part 1

Summary

In this lecture on applied occupational therapy theory, Brenda Howard explores motor control and motor learning frameworks, highlighting the differences between approaches for biomechanical versus neurological injuries. She reviews early motor control theories like reflexes, hierarchical control, and motor programming, as well as brain plasticity's role in rehabilitation. Key theorists such as Margaret Roode and Berta Bobath are discussed, alongside various techniques like neurodevelopmental treatment. The focus shifts to contemporary motor learning theories, emphasizing task-oriented approaches and the importance of both procedural and declarative learning for regaining movement after neurological injury.

Takeaways

• 🧠 Motor control and motor learning are crucial for understanding how to assist individuals with neurological injuries, as they differ from biomechanical injuries.
• 🤲 The brain makes countless adjustments for movement, such as reaching for objects at different distances, which is not pre-programmed but dynamically adjusted.
• 👶 Early motor control theories focused on development, including reflexes, hierarchical control, and motor programming, suggesting a cephalocaudal and proximodistal development.
• 🧪 Brain plasticity allows for relearning and reprogramming of movement after injury, emphasizing the brain's capacity to adapt.
• 👩‍⚕️ Margaret Roode's Rood approach emphasized subconscious movement, facilitation, and inhibition techniques to normalize tone and promote recovery.
• 🌐 Neurodevelopmental treatment, developed by Carol and Berta, focuses on sensory input for movement pattern development and handling techniques.
• 🔄 Brunnstrom's stages of recovery acknowledge that individuals may progress through or get stuck at different stages post-stroke or injury.
• 💪 Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) promotes diagonal and segmental movement patterns, using verbal commands to guide movement.
• 🔄 Motor learning approaches have evolved to focus on task-oriented learning rather than strictly following developmental sequences.
• 🧠 Both declarative (conscious thought) and procedural (automatic) learning are important for relearning movement after neurological injury.
• 🧠 The brain dedicates significant areas to planning and executing movements, especially for speech and hand function, with sensory information playing a vital role.

Q & A

What is the primary reason for using a motor control or motor learning approach with neurological injuries?

A motor control or motor learning approach is necessary for neurological injuries because these injuries affect upper motor neurons, requiring a different approach than biomechanical injuries, which involve muscles, joints, or kinematics and use a biomechanical approach.

How does the brain adjust movement in real time when picking up objects placed at different distances?

The brain makes real-time adjustments by processing sensory information to determine factors like distance and required speed for each hand. It coordinates movement without relying on a pre-programmed motor plan, allowing flexibility for each unique movement task.

What is the significance of early motor control theories in the development of modern motor learning theories?

Early motor control theories focused on developmental aspects like reflexes, hierarchical control, and motor programming. These ideas formed the foundation for contemporary motor learning theories by emphasizing brain control of movement, developmental sequences, and the role of brain plasticity.

Who was Margaret Roode, and what was her contribution to motor control theory?

Margaret Roode was both an occupational and physical therapist who developed the 'Rood approach,' which emphasized following reflex patterns, normalizing tone, and using facilitation and inhibition techniques to help people regain movement.

What are facilitation and inhibition techniques in the Rood approach, and how are they applied?

Facilitation techniques, like using ice, brushing, and quick stretching, are used to activate desired movements. Inhibition techniques, such as slow rhythmic movements or neutral warmth, help reduce unwanted muscle tone to facilitate smoother movement.

How did the neurodevelopmental treatment approach by Carolyn and Berta Bobath evolve over time?

The Bobaths' neurodevelopmental treatment initially focused on case-based research and handling techniques to provide sensory input. Over time, it evolved into a more motor-learning-based approach, integrating evidence-based practices to help individuals develop motor patterns.

What role does sensory input play in motor learning according to neurodevelopmental theories?

Sensory input is crucial in motor learning because it helps individuals feel what normal movement should be like. Sensory feedback drives motor output, allowing individuals to adjust and refine their movement patterns based on tactile, visual, and proprioceptive feedback.

What is proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF), and how is it used in therapy?

Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) involves using diagonal movement patterns and verbal commands to help individuals learn or relearn motor skills. It emphasizes diagonal rather than straight-plane movements, which more closely resemble natural human motion.

How does motor learning differ from motor control in the context of rehabilitation?

Motor control is about regulating and directing mechanisms for movement, while motor learning focuses on acquiring or modifying movement through task-oriented approaches. It involves finding functional solutions for specific tasks rather than following a developmental sequence.

What are the differences between procedural and declarative learning in motor recovery?

Procedural learning involves mastering tasks without conscious thought, such as riding a bike, while declarative learning requires mental rehearsal and conscious effort, like mentally sequencing steps in a task. Over time, tasks typically shift from declarative to procedural memory as skills become more automatic.