Glidemotorikk

Glidemotorikk, ofte translated as glide motor skills, is a term used in occupational therapy and developmental science to describe the ability to perform smooth, coordinated, and precise voluntary movements. It encompasses the motor control required for continuous, well-timed actions with the hands, fingers, and wrists, particularly in tasks that demand fine motor accuracy and visual–motor integration.

Development and assessment rely on maturation and practice. Glidemotorikk emerges in early childhood as the nervous system develops and skills are refined through repeated, task-specific activity. Proximal stability, motor planning (praxis), proprioception, and sensory integration all contribute to movement smoothness. In clinical settings, clinicians observe daily tasks and may use standardized tests of fine motor dexterity and visuomotor performance, along with evaluations of handwriting quality and speed.

Impairments in glidemotorikk can occur in developmental coordination disorder (DCD), dyspraxia, or other conditions affecting motor control. Interventions focus on improving movement smoothness and accuracy through task-specific practice, strengthening and dexterity work for the fingers and wrists, and enhancing visual–motor integration. Occupational therapy strategies often include hand–finger exercises, coordinated grip and release tasks, practice of handwriting or drawing, and the use of adaptive equipment or pencil grips when needed. The overarching goal is to enable efficient, fluid performance in daily activities and academic tasks.

Terminology and context: The term is primarily used in Nordic clinical and educational literature and is generally considered part of fine motor skills, with emphasis on the smooth execution of precise movements.