Impaired patterns of postural control & movement coordination are the primary problems
These impairments are changeable when problems are directly addressed in a task-specific context
Sensorimotor impairments affect the whole individual
Typical adaptive motor development is the framework for treatment
Intervention strategies involve the individual's active initiation and participation with therapist manual guidance
NDT utilizes movement analysis to identify missing components
Therapeutic Model
Dynamic Systems Theory
Movement is organized around behavioral goals
All individuals have competencies and strengths in various systems
Functional outcomes should be designed in partnership with the client and caregivers
Learning or relearning requires practice and experience
Treatment is most effective during recovery or phase transitions
Therapeutic Handling
Through manual contact:
input
Direct the client's initiation of movement more efficiently and with more effective muscle synergies
Support and change alignment of the body in relation to the base of support and with respect to the force of gravity prior to and during movement
Decrease the amount of force the client uses to stabilize body segments
Guide or redirect the direction, force, speed, and timing of muscle activation for successful task completion
Either constrain or increase the flexibility in the degrees of freedom needed to stabilize or move body segments in a functional activity
Sense the response of the client to the sensory input and the movement outcome and provide nonverbal feedback for reference of correction
Recognize that the client can become independent of the therapist's assistance and take over control of the posture and movement
Direct the client's attention to meaningful aspects of the motor task
Key points of control
Usually proximal - head, shoulders, pelvis
From which abnormal patterns can be controlled and tone can be controlled
And the strength and distribution of tone can be influenced
While normal movement patterns can be facilitated or a stimulation technique can be used.
Facilitation
After preparing normal tone and posture
Facilitate normal movement pattern with minimal effort
Coordinate postural reactions
Have an awareness of normal development
Inhibition
R.I.P.
Patterns opposite tonal patterns
Individual adapted mixed patterns
Reduces dysfunctional muscle tone
Breaks up abnormal patterns
A brain lesion results in stereotyped abnormally coordinated
movement patterns, which will
abnormally affect a great number of muscle groups in extensor or flexor synergies
In the beginning, these patterns are changeable
As time goes on, they increase with stimulation, effort, and stress
A brain lesion interferes with development of normal postural control in relation to gravity
Instead of normal tone, we find hypertonicity, hypotonicity, fluctuating tone, mixed tone
Instead of normal reciprocal interaction, we find excessive co-contraction, or sudden inhibition of antagonists resulting in the inability to move gradually
Instead of normal automatic movement patterns of righting, equilibrium, and protective reactions, we find a few static and stereotyped postural patterns of tonic reflexes