Motor Compensation

Authors

Affiliations

Nate Yomogida, B.S., SPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.S. in Kinesiology

Chloë Kerstein, B.S., SPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.A. in Neuroscience

Motor compensation refers to performance of an old movement in a new manner that can be achieved through adaptive compensation or behavioral substitution¹

Motor compensation can be divided into adaptive compensation and behavioral substitution

Adaptive Compensation

Adaptive compensation refers to using alternative motor patterns to accomplish a task¹

Example of Adaptive Compensation

E.g. the patient with a complete T1 SCI learns to roll using both UEs and momentum¹

Behavioral Substitution

Behavioral substitution refers to using alternate body segments or effectors to accomplish a task¹.

Example of Behavioral Substitution

For example, a patient with a stroke learns to dress independently using the less affected upper extremity (UE)¹.

References

1.

O’Sullivan SB, Schmitz TJ, eds. Improving Functional Outcomes in Physical Rehabilitation. 2nd ed. F.A. Davis Company; 2016.