Unpredictable task demands and motor performance in individuals with neuromotor disability: a scoping review

Abstract

Background Individuals with neuromotor disabilities demonstrate motor control patterns characterized by a decreased capacity to adapt to contextual change. Task-oriented training is one promising intervention to improve functional task performance, but little is known about effective strategies for intervention progression to promote adaptability. Perturbation to the motor control system induced through unpredictable task demands may be one strategy to facilitate flexibility and adaptability. Objectives The objective of this scoping review was to describe the influence of unpredictable task demands on motor performance in individuals with neuromotor disabilities in terms of both task outcomes and the motor strategies underlying task performance. Methods Scoping review of articles involving unpredictable task demands in individuals with neuromotor disabilities. Two reviewers independently conducted title and abstract screening, evaluated full texts, extracted data, and rated study quality. Results Six studies were included in the review. All studies were of moderate to high methodological quality. Unpredictable task demands broadly attenuated impairments at the level of motor strategies in individuals with neuromotor disabilities. Conclusions The available literature suggests that unpredictability may attenuate impairments and facilitate the discovery of novel motor strategies underlying task performance in individuals with neuromotor disabilities. Unpredictability may act to induce flexibility into impaired motor control systems characterized by stereotypy in movement. Providing individuals with neuromotor disabilities with additional experiences in unpredictable tasks may improve motor skill acquisition and performance. Further empirical research is required to establish an effective dose and practice schedule for specific diagnoses.