Interesting thoughts ! I work with neurologically impaired adults, some of
whom have grown up with their difficulty from childhood ......I have
certainly come across high-tone, cognitively OK adults who knowingly alter
their head position to achieve the desired effect of increasing their tone
still further, or to reduce it. Sometimes they haven't realised that they
were doing it until I pointed it out to them. And sometimes they hadn't
realised that they could do it, and when I've asked them to try, have been
surprised and have subsequently used this knowledge to modify their tone.
The crucial point here (from my observations) is the high-level of cognitive
function and the effort needed to generate the voluntary movement. If the
effort is too great, tone will increase too much......but then that brings
us back to your colleague's angle on this. I'm looking forward to other
replies !
Nikki Adams Community Physical Disability Team Wakefield UK
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----- Original Message -----
From: <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, February 03, 2001 2:39 PM
Subject: Friendly debate on motor control and inhibition
> Friends, a colleague of mine and I have a difference of opinion regarding
a
> neurlogically involved child. I feel that if a child with severe spastic
tone
> has enough cognitive skills, that he or she can learn what movements of
> his/her head would trigger a significant increase in overall extensor
tone. I
> also feel that with this knowledge, a child, even with significant
dominance
> by ATNR and STNR, could learn not to move so as not to trigger the tone,
and
> in essence develop a self limiting motor movement pattern. My colleague
feels
> that this is not possible neurlogically. That the very essence of
dominance
> by the spastic tone prevents any "voluntary" control. And neurlogically
the
> body seeks sensory stimulation and movement at all costs. Any input????
>
> Steve Marcum PT
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