MOTOR CONTROL
Defining Motor Control
Motor control encompasses the intricate physiological and neurological mechanisms
responsible for the regulation and execution of movement. It synthesizes sensory input, motor
planning, and muscular coordination to facilitate precise, purposeful, and adaptive behaviors.
This integrated system is foundational to all motor functions, from basic postural alignment to
complex task performance in athletic and occupational domains.
Determinants of Movement Behavior
Motor behavior emerges from the continuous and dynamic interaction among three primary
domains:
1. The Individual – Includes intrinsic factors such as musculoskeletal integrity, neuromotor
coordination, cognitive functioning, and emotional state. These internal attributes
define one’s capacity for initiating, regulating, and modifying movement.
2. The Task – Task characteristics, including its complexity, duration, stability
requirements, and goal orientation, significantly shape the motor control strategy
employed.
3. The Environment – External variables such as terrain, lighting, ambient sound, and
sociocultural context modulate movement execution and planning.
These domains interact reciprocally, requiring adaptable and context-specific motor strategies
for effective performance.
Foundational Systems in Motor Control
1. Action Systems
The neuromuscular system coordinates multiple joints and muscle groups to resolve the
"degrees of freedom" problem—managing redundant movement options for efficient
execution. This involves both feedforward and feedback control mechanisms to maintain
stability and achieve task goals.
2. Perceptual Systems
Sensory modalities, including visual, somatosensory, and vestibular inputs, deliver essential
information about the body and environment. Perception involves both peripheral signal
acquisition and central interpretation, which are critical for movement calibration and
correction.
3. Cognitive Systems
Higher-order cognitive functions such as attention, executive planning, motivation, and
decision-making are integral to goal-directed movement. These systems enable predictive and
adaptive behaviors essential in dynamic and uncertain contexts.
Taxonomy of Motor Tasks
Accurate classification of motor tasks informs both theoretical analysis and clinical intervention:
Discrete vs. Continuous Tasks: Discrete tasks (e.g., pressing a button) have defined
endpoints, whereas continuous tasks (e.g., walking) lack intrinsic termination points.
Stability vs. Mobility Tasks: Stability tasks (e.g., sitting) require postural control,
whereas mobility tasks (e.g., climbing) involve shifts in the base of support.
Open vs. Closed Tasks: Open tasks occur in unpredictable settings, necessitating on-the-
fly adaptation (e.g., team sports). Closed tasks occur in stable, controlled environments
with consistent parameters (e.g., treadmill walking).
These classifications aid clinicians in tailoring task difficulty and progression for therapeutic
efficacy.
Environmental Modulation of Motor Performance
Regulatory Features: Environmental characteristics that shape movement execution
directly, such as object properties or surface texture.
Non-regulatory Features: External elements that influence performance indirectly (e.g.,
noise), but do not require motor adaptation.
Creating training environments that manipulate these features facilitates both skill acquisition
and generalization.
Contemporary Theoretical Frameworks in Motor Control
Reflex Theory
Proposes that movement results from chained reflexes triggered by external stimuli. While
foundational, this theory lacks explanatory power for voluntary, anticipatory, or rapid
movement sequences.
Hierarchical Theory
Describes motor control as top-down, with higher CNS centers governing subordinate
structures. Although consistent with developmental and lesion-based data, it neglects the
bidirectional and distributed nature of neural control.
Motor Programming Theory
Posits that pre-structured central motor schemas can initiate movement independent of
sensory input. While offering explanatory power for rapid, ballistic actions, it underrepresents
biomechanical and environmental variability.
Systems Theory
Emphasizes the interaction of multiple subsystems—neurological, musculoskeletal, and
environmental—in producing behavior. This nonlinear, dynamic approach accounts for
variability, redundancy, and adaptability in motor function.
Ecological Theory
Focuses on the perception-action loop, where movement is guided by affordances—
opportunities for action—within the environment. It highlights the functional relevance of
movement through exploratory and adaptive behavior.
Implications for Clinical Practice
Theoretical models of motor control underpin modern rehabilitation by:
Guiding clinical reasoning in the assessment and diagnosis of motor impairments.
Informing the design and sequencing of therapeutic tasks to align with patient-specific
constraints.
Encouraging variability and problem-solving to enhance learning and motor adaptation.
Clinicians can apply these models to harness neuroplasticity, foster independence, and optimize
therapeutic outcomes.
Synthesis and Clinical Relevance
While each theoretical model contributes valuable insights, no single framework fully captures
the complexity of motor behavior. The systems approach—integrating elements from reflexive,
cognitive, perceptual, and biomechanical perspectives—offers the most comprehensive and
flexible paradigm. It acknowledges that movement emerges from the interaction among the
individual, task, and environment, providing a holistic foundation for both scientific inquiry and
clinical practice in motor control and rehabilitation.
