Motor Control and Motor Learning: Implications for Treatment of Individuals Post Stroke

Rehabilitation therapists are involved in teaching motor skills to clients after a stroke. Motor control and motor learning theories have contributed to the way rehabilitation therapists work with people who have experienced a stroke. This paper will review implications of motor control and motor learning on the treatment of individuals following a stroke. There has been a shift in the research away from reflex and hierarchical theories of motor control to a systems approach to therapy. As well, there are four factors that contribute to motor learning, including stages of learning, types of task, practice, and feedback. These factors as well as the environment must be considered for generalization of skills when treating clients post stroke.