neuromotor

Neuromotor refers to the processes by which the nervous system coordinates and executes movement. It involves the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, and the neuromuscular junction, as well as the muscles themselves. The control of movement depends on motor planning in the cortex, sensorimotor integration, and feedback from proprioceptive, visual, and vestibular systems to adjust ongoing actions.

Key components include motor neurons, motor programs, muscle fibers, and the musculoskeletal system. The central nervous system areas implicated include the primary motor cortex, premotor and supplementary motor areas, the cerebellum for coordination and timing, and the basal ganglia for movement initiation and smoothness. Peripheral components include the upper and lower motor neurons and the neuromuscular junction, through which neural signals trigger muscle contraction.

Neuromotor development describes how movement control emerges during infancy and childhood, while neuromotor control can be affected by aging or injury. Neuromotor disorders are conditions that impair the neural control of movement and can manifest as impaired coordination, weakness, tremor, spasticity, or gait abnormalities. Examples include cerebral palsy, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, spinal cord injury, stroke, and developmental coordination disorder.

Assessment and research in neuromotor function employ physical examination, electromyography (EMG), nerve conduction studies, gait and movement analysis, and standardized rating scales to evaluate motor performance. Interventions in neuromotor rehabilitation emphasize task-specific practice, motor learning, feedback, strength and flexibility training, balance and coordination exercises, and, in some cases, techniques such as constraint-induced movement therapy or neurostimulation.