Method for improving motor control in an individual by sensory training
US5971943A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 14, 1997 |
| Grant date | Oct 26, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 14, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC —)General
Abstract
A method and apparatus for implementing a training regimen which addresses motor control problems accompanied by sensory degradation. Accordingly, the training regimen is applicable to motor control disorders associated with a variety of different causes, including traumatic injury, disease, aging and gradual "occupational" type injury. For example, in an individual suffering from repetitive strain injury (RSI), the disabling motor control problems are often accompanied by sensory problems. These sensory problems appear to be caused over time by harmful attended rapid repetitive movements resulting in undesirable changes in the somatosensory, proprioceptive and/or kinesthetic ability of the affected regions of the individual. The present invention hypothesizes that repetitive delivery of simultaneous or nearly simultaneous afferent sensory inputs, under attended conditions of high cognitive drive, results in a learning-induced integration of the representation of the individuality of otherwise differentiable parts of the subjects thereby degrading the sensory feedback loop necessary for normal motor control. What started out as a degradation of the sensory feedback capability, esse…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.