Motor Learning in Occupational Therapy

Motor Learning in Occupational Therapy Even though the motor learning process is commonly over looked in day to day life, without motor learning we would not have reasoning for the things we do. Research on motor learning makes it possible to figure out how to learn an action in the most effective way. Naturally, we learn to utilize our motor skills in our occupations. Whether sitting at a desk typing up charts in a dentist office, preparing food for fellow hungry college kids in a cafeteria, or landscaping a yard, each job partakes in some sort of motor learning. I believe that throughout all of the occupations out there, motor learning is used in medical care the most. It is simple to think of a few factors that Occupational Therapists would use in the allied health department. The most predominant ones I believe would be demonstration and verbal instruction, appropriate practice conditions, and feedback. I believe demonstration and verbal instruction in motor learning can be effective for anyone undergoing occupational therapy because it is so crucial in the first stages of therapy. Whether a patient is a debilitated stroke victim or one who underwent surgery that caused them to be unable to utilize their fine motor skills well, using modeling can be very beneficial for them. It is crucial that a patient see’s exactly how the model uses their body to instruct. It is also crucial for the person modeling to know exactly what each specific patient needs to work on. Occupational therapist must use verbal cues accordingly at this time. They need to be short and concise so the patient can remember the demands as they continue on with their practice at home. Having appropriate practice conditions is probably the most important motor learning factor an occupational therapist can come across. It is important for a patient to practice under variety of movement and tasks. This enhances error, and an enhancement of error can lead to better performance.