Understanding Motor Control Flashcards
What are the 7 components of motor control?
- Normal muscle tone
- Normal postural tone
- Postural mechanisms
- Selective movement
- Patterns of movement
- Sensory and proprioceptive controls
- Coordination
Define motor control
The ability to make dynamic postural adjustments and direct body and limb movement.
What are some characteristics of normal muscle tone?
- Ability to move against gravity and resistance
- Balance between agonist and antagonist muscles
- Effective stabilisation at axial and proximal joints
- Slight resistance in response to passive movement
What are some characteristics of normal postural tone
- Low enough o take up base of support
- High enough to maintain posture
- Automatic changes in postural tone in response to displacement or voluntary movement
- Varies between individuals
What are some characteristics of postural mechanisms?
- Automatic movements
- Provides orientation of the body
- Provides balance
Components include:
- Normal postural tone and control
- Righting reactions
- Integration of primitive reflexes
- Equilibrium and protective reactions
What is balance?
Maintaining COG over BOS
Define COG
Centre of gravity
The point at which the mass of the body can be considered to be located - there is a constant downwards force
Define BOS
Base of support
The relationship between the supporting surface and the body part in contact with it
What are some characteristics of selective movement?
- Enables choice and change at any point during movement in response to demand
- Requires background postural stability as a basis
What is A characteristic of pattern of movement?
- Synergies
Define synergies
The automatic contraction of all the muscles involved in moving a joint to cause a stereotyped movement pattern.
Describe the flexion synergy of the upper limb
- Elbow flexion is the strongest synergy
- Scapula retraction and elevation
- Shoulder abduction and external rotation
- Forearm supination
- Hand and finger position is variable
Describe the extensor synergy of the upper limb
- Shoulder adduction and internal rotation are the strongest synergies
- Scapular protraction
- Elbow extension
- Forearm
What are some characteristics of coordination?
- Ability to produce accurate, controlled movement
- Smoothness
- Rhythm
- Appropriate speed
