Group Activities for Neuromuscular Re-education
Purpose of Group Activities for Neuromuscular Re-Education
- Educate residents on proper positioning to prevent and/or reduce contractures, edema and/or pain
- Improve strength and/or range of motion for ADL performance
- Improve perceptual motor status
- Improve proprioceptive feedback
- Improve reaction time
- Improve accuracy of movement, decrease dysmetria
- Train in one-handed techniques to increase ADL function
- Improve sensation through tactile stimulation activities
- Facilitate functional mobility for ADL performance
- Train in tone management/reduction techniques
- Facilitation of selective control/inhibition of synergistic movement
Contraindications
- Stabilizing and/or mobilizing the scapulae may be indicated in instances of shoulder subluxation and/or presence of abnormal tone
- Suggested Group Activities for Neuromuscular Re-education
- Edema control education
- Swinging/boating for integration of vestibular ocular reflex
- Walking in sand or water, standing in the surf with waves for proprioceptive training
- “Mirror, Mirror on the Wall”—using the mirror for visual feedback as to position
- Floor or wall “Twister”
- “Walk This Way” or other activities to increase proprioceptive feedback by producing exaggerated movements
- Activities to improve accuracy of movement, decrease dysmetria (e.g., use of weights with multiple joint movements)
- Rock the rocker board for postural alignment training and control in relation to gravity and surfaces
- “Pass the Potato” (any object) for training detection of limits of stability and body position in space by passing objects within a group, gradually progressing the distance between participants
- “Now You See, Now You Don’t” exercise class—participants complete exercises in either sitting or standing, alternating eyes open/closed to train adaptation visual feedback for balance
- Slow adjustments of position with “Monkey See, Monkey Do” mimicking activity
- “Patting Your Head and Rubbing Your Tummy Contest” to train bilateral integration/manipulation techniques
- “Strike a Pose”—who can hold a statue pose the longest maintaining selective motor control
- “Red Light/Green Light” for initiation/termination of activity
- Slide or Seesaw for training praxis skills
- Dancing for proprioceptive and selective motor control training