Motor Characteristics of Those With Significant Disabilities
Motor Characteristics of those with Significant Disabilities
Individuals with significant disabilities often possess common motor characteristics related to the deficiencies they have. Whether chronic or acute, these health issues have a significant impact on the livelihood of the individual. When relating to and teaching those with significant disabilities, it is important to understand the motorical characteristics and the impact those characteristics have on an individual.
Neurological
One motor characteristic that makes up a large portion of those with significant disabilities, is that of neurological deficiency (Michaud, 2013). Disabilities that often exhibit neurological characteristics include traumatic brain injury, myelomeningocele, neuromuscular disease, and those with seizure disorders (Michaud, 2013). Although severity varies, these disabilities are characterized by motor impairments resulting from a neurological injury or deficiency. This condition often results in muscle weakness, decreased joint range of motion, abnormal muscle tone, and/or decreased balance and coordination (Michaud, 2013). Often, these individuals are limited in their ability to participate in age-appropriate activities such as mobility, self-care, and communication. Many times individuals require therapy in the areas of physical, occupational and speech-language (Michaud, 2013).
Restricted Movement
Many times individuals with significant disabilities may also suffer from restricted movement due to musculoskeletal deficiencies (Michaud, 2013). Cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury, hypertonia, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, arthrogryposis, and limb deficiencies are among the disabilities that often exhibit these motor characteristics (Michaud, 2013). These conditions are sometimes caused by improper development of the brain or brain trauma resulting in brain damage. The outcome is often difficulty with movement and control of voluntary
Individuals with significant disabilities often possess common motor characteristics related to the deficiencies they have. Whether chronic or acute, these health issues have a significant impact on the livelihood of the individual. When relating to and teaching those with significant disabilities, it is important to understand the motorical characteristics and the impact those characteristics have on an individual.
Neurological
One motor characteristic that makes up a large portion of those with significant disabilities, is that of neurological deficiency (Michaud, 2013). Disabilities that often exhibit neurological characteristics include traumatic brain injury, myelomeningocele, neuromuscular disease, and those with seizure disorders (Michaud, 2013). Although severity varies, these disabilities are characterized by motor impairments resulting from a neurological injury or deficiency. This condition often results in muscle weakness, decreased joint range of motion, abnormal muscle tone, and/or decreased balance and coordination (Michaud, 2013). Often, these individuals are limited in their ability to participate in age-appropriate activities such as mobility, self-care, and communication. Many times individuals require therapy in the areas of physical, occupational and speech-language (Michaud, 2013).
Restricted Movement
Many times individuals with significant disabilities may also suffer from restricted movement due to musculoskeletal deficiencies (Michaud, 2013). Cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury, hypertonia, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, arthrogryposis, and limb deficiencies are among the disabilities that often exhibit these motor characteristics (Michaud, 2013). These conditions are sometimes caused by improper development of the brain or brain trauma resulting in brain damage. The outcome is often difficulty with movement and control of voluntary
References: Alfred. (2007, February 21). What is hypertonia? Disabled-World. Retrieved from http://www.disabled-world.com/artman/publish/hypertonia.shtml Michaud, L. (2013) Prescribing therapy services for children with motor disabilities V-Excell (2013). Severe or Multiple Disabilities. Retrieved from http://www.v-excel.org/topics/tp_smd.shtml