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Updated: Jul 3, 2026
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The Impact of Motor Task Conditions on Goal-Directed Arm Reaching Kinematics and Trunk Compensation in Chronic Stroke Survivors
Published on: May 2, 2021
Submovement changes characterize generalization of motor recovery after stroke
Laura Dipietro1, Hermano I Krebs, Susan E Fasoli
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA. lauradp@mit.edu
Summary
Motor recovery after stroke involves changes in submovements, the building blocks of human movement. Even untrained tasks showed improved smoothness and altered submovement characteristics, suggesting a unified recovery process.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Motor Control
Background:
- Submovements are considered fundamental units of human motor control.
- Previous research indicated that motor recovery from stroke involves changes in submovement parameters.
- Generalization of motor learning suggests improvements in untrained tasks post-stroke therapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate changes in submovements and movement smoothness in untrained tasks during stroke recovery.
- To determine if submovement alterations observed in trained movements also occur in untrained movements.
- To explore the relationship between motor learning and motor recovery after stroke.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of circle-drawing movements in 47 chronic stroke subjects.
- Subjects participated in an 18-session robot-assisted therapy program focusing on point-to-point movements.
- Evaluation of movement smoothness and submovement parameters (number, duration, speed).
Main Results:
- Stroke subjects improved circle-drawing accuracy and smoothness without specific training on this task.
- Submovements in untrained movements became fewer, longer, and faster during recovery.
- Observed changes in submovements and smoothness correlate with motor recovery progression.
Conclusions:
- Changes in submovements and movement smoothness characterize motor recovery in untrained tasks after stroke.
- The findings support the submovement theory of motor control and recovery.
- Motor recovery post-stroke shares characteristics with general motor learning processes.
