Unpredictable task demands and motor performance in individuals with neuromotor disability: a scoping review

Abstract

Background

Individuals with neuromotor disabilities demonstrate motor control patterns characterized by a decreased capacity to adapt to contextual change. Task-oriented training is one promising intervention to improve functional task performance, but little is known about effective strategies for intervention progression to promote adaptability. Perturbation to the motor control system induced through unpredictable task demands may be one strategy to facilitate flexibility and adaptability.

Objectives

The objective of this scoping review was to describe the influence of unpredictable task demands on motor performance in individuals with neuromotor disabilities in terms of both task outcomes and the motor strategies underlying task performance.

Methods

Scoping review of articles involving unpredictable task demands in individuals with neuromotor disabilities. Two reviewers independently conducted title and abstract screening, evaluated full texts, extracted data, and rated study quality.

Results

Six studies were included in the review. All studies were of moderate to high methodological quality. Unpredictable task demands broadly attenuated impairments at the level of motor strategies in individuals with neuromotor disabilities.

Conclusions

The available literature suggests that unpredictability may attenuate impairments and facilitate the discovery of novel motor strategies underlying task performance in individuals with neuromotor disabilities. Unpredictability may act to induce flexibility into impaired motor control systems characterized by stereotypy in movement. Providing individuals with neuromotor disabilities with additional experiences in unpredictable tasks may improve motor skill acquisition and performance. Further empirical research is required to establish an effective dose and practice schedule for specific diagnoses.

Keywords:

• Physical therapy
• neurologic disability
• unpredictability
• motor control

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Data availability

Associated data are available on the Open Science Framework (OSF): https://osf.io/9jg8r/.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded in part by Foundation for Physical Therapy Research Promotion of Doctoral Studies (PODS) Level I and Level II Scholarships supported by the American Physical Therapy Association Scholarship Fund and the Rhomberger Fund, respectively.

Notes on contributors

Sarah M. Schwab

Sarah M. Schwab, PT, DPT, MA, is a physical therapist and a PhD student at the Center for Cognition, Action, & Perception in the Department of Psychology at the University of Cincinnati. Her research focuses on basic and applied motor control and motor learning.

Valéria Andrade Pinto

Valéria Andrade Pinto, PT, MSc, is a physical therapist and a PhD student at the Center for Cognition, Action, & Perception in the Department of Psychology at the University of Cincinnati. Her research focuses on motor control and motor learning with implications for rehabilitation.

Heidi Kloos

Heidi Kloos, PhD, is an associate professor at the Center for Cognition, Action, & Perception in the Department of Psychology at the University of Cincinnati. Dr. Kloos studies knowledge development and learning using systems approaches.

Michael A. Riley

Michael A. Riley, PhD, is a professor at the Center for Cognition, Action, & Perception in the Department of Psychology at the University of Cincinnati. Dr. Riley studies human perceptual-motor behavior from the perspectives of complexity science and ecological psychology.

Paula L. Silva

Paula L. Silva, PhD, is a physical therapist and an assistant professor at the Center for Cognition, Action, & Perception in the Department of Psychology at the University of Cincinnati. Dr. Silva studies human performance, both functional and dysfunctional, from the perspectives of complexity science and ecological psychology.