Application of Motor Learning Principles to the Stroke Population

The physical rehabilitation of patients with stroke is shifting from a medical model of treating neurophysiological impairment to an educational model that emphasizes the reeducation of patients in motor tasks. This greater focus on patient learning requires knowledge not only in how to assist patients in the restoration of efficient movement patterns, but also in how to help patients learn to create and modify movement strategies to solve the functional problems they encounter in daily tasks. This article provides an overview of principles to be considered when attempting to optimize the motor learning of stroke patients. A model of motor learning is presented, followed by a discussion of contemporary research and clinical issues in the areas of information processing and practice. It is proposed that only through the combination of clinical research and critical introspection of our treatment practices can we gain a more complete insight to the motor learning behavior of stroke patients.