Home / Services / Motor Relearning

Motor Relearning

Motor relearning is an evidence-based therapy technique used to help clients regain or improve motor control. With a thorough understanding of one’s own motor dysfunctions, clients can, with the help of physiotherapist, retrain their muscles towards normal function. Motor relearning is particularly effective for clients with hemiplegia (paralysis on one side of the body).

Motor relearning, also called MRP (Motor Relearning Programme), has seven sections, or areas of focus. Clients are evaluated for difficulties in these sections:

• Upper limb function
• Orofacial function
• Sitting up from supine (lying down)
• Sitting down (continuous)
•  Standing up then sitting down
• Standing (continuous)
• Walking

Treatment goals are generated from the client’s specific section of difficulty. The basic steps of MRP are as follows:

1) The therapist carefully analyzes the client’s specific area of concern

2) The therapist explains the missing components in the client’s motor control processes. The therapist can suggest precisely-tailored activities and exercises, and will explain why they help in the retraining of function.

3) The client is carefully guided in this activity or exercise, and are provided instructions for how to practice on their own.

4) After practicing for sufficient time, the therapist and client review whether the exercises have improved motor control. If needed, new treatments are added.  Clients at this point can transfer their learning, so that their acquired knowledge is applied to new situations of motor control difficulty.

Many of our Action Rehabilitation therapists are trained in both adult and pediatric MRP. To learn more about motor relearning treatments, don’t hesitate to contact us.