From Motor Control to Motor Learning
Without motor control theory, which came mostly from physical therapists, we would not have evolved to a theory that encompasses a lot of OT concepts. I really feel that motor learning theory does speak a lot to what OTs do. As always, we still need more research on this, and the theories continue to evolve daily. But, in general, motor learning theory is what I think of when you think of techniques such as NDT, PNF, Rood, and Brunnstrom.
Motor Learning theory focuses on the ability to regulate our direct mechanisms for movement. It is central nervous system organization, focusing on sensory information, perception, muscles and joints. It also involves a lot of hands-on therapist-to-client interaction. When looking at appropriate motor movements, we focus on motor control on progressing from
cephalocaudal and from proximodistal. Again, think about NDT, PNF, Rood, and Brunnstrom concepts.
Now, these motor control methods and mechanisms of the theory have not been proven wrong by any means. In fact, they are still used very much today, and can still be very effective. The research has not been there to truly and firmly back it up though. The theory has evolved to include more of a motor learning aspect. Which, like I said, involves more of what OTs do in general. It is the acquisition or modification of movement, which is really essential in occupation and adaptation. It is a move away from looking at the very specific muscle movements to encompassing all of the individual; the occupation or activity that they are doing, their environment, and, most importantly, their ability to adapt to different situations and to different tasks.
Motor Learning
This is a brief definition of motor learning:
... a process associated with practice or experience that leads to relatively permanent changes in the ability to produce skillful responses. -Schmidt
I want to point out and emphasize here that learning requires a permanent change. Something that you see for a brief time or maybe in one treatment session is really a temporary change in performance. Whereas in motor learning, we focus on that ability to learn something and learn it permanently. It is usually produced within a skillful response, not a too-simple or rote task.
