Tuned Purposeful Motor Sequencing: Breaking Down Motor Tasks (TPMS)

Introduction:

Tuned Purposeful Motor Sequencing for successful motor tasking and mastering motor demands are a fundamental aspect of human capability, influencing everything from communication to sports performance to daily living activities. Yet, as most individuals do this automatically beneath the surface of seemingly effortless movements lies a complex process of sequencing, where breaking down tasks into smaller, manageable steps is key to achieving proficiency. In this blog, we delve into the art of sequencing motor tasks, exploring its importance, strategies, and real-world applications. It is important that when we deal with apraxia we understand that this is a key component to support communication and quality of living. .

Understanding the Importance of Sequencing:

Before delving into the strategies of sequencing motor tasks, it’s essential to grasp why it matters and where to start. Sequencing facilitates skill acquisition by breaking down complex actions into smaller, more digestible components. By focusing on one step at a time, learners can build a solid foundation, gradually integrating each component into a cohesive whole.  Starting with the gross motor system ensures a healthy balance for the motor task, per Maslow’s law.  This Tuned Purposeful Motor approach not only enhances learning efficiency but also promotes retention and mastery to sequence with accuracy and fluency.

Before we start it is important to understand when the body is not grasping the sequence it is not a cognitive issue.  It’s simply a disconnect in the body’s sequencing when the motor task demand is placed on the individual. This is a communication output issue and this is where  by connecting the brain and body we are finding success in purposeful autonomous movement. 

Strategies for Effective Sequencing:

1. Analyze the Task: Begin by deconstructing the motor task into its constituent parts. Identify each step involved, from the initial preparation to the final execution. This analytical approach provides clarity and insight into the task’s intricacies allowing for automatic execution of tasks when self prompted. Like a river forming in a dry place, creating new pathways takes time to flow purposefully during tasks. A professional setting that focuses on Tuned Purposeful Movement, also referred to as TMP, will be able to analyze the gross and fine motor muscles that are needed in order to execute the task demanded. This allows for creating an individual motor profile and implementing an innovative coaching strategy for each person.
2. Establish Progression: Arrange the steps in a logical sequence, considering the natural flow of movement and dependencies between actions. Start with fundamental elements before progressing to more advanced techniques, ensuring a gradual buildup of complexity. You will adjust the complexity of the breakdown according to  each motor profile
3. Focus on Fundamentals: Emphasize mastering foundational skills before tackling more intricate aspects of the task. By prioritizing fundamentals, learners develop a solid framework upon which to build advanced abilities. 

Ex. Chair Squats/Sitting in a chair when asked.  Break down the sequence. Have the individual stand on a line of tape with feet forward. Bend those knees. Push those hips back into your target chair and feel your bottom on the chair. Feet flat to the floor and your back to tight to the chair, shoulders up, eyes on instructor.

4. Provide Clear Instructions: Communicate each body task step by step clearly and concisely, using verbal cues, visual demonstrations, or a combination of both. Clarity in instruction enhances input from the body to the brain and reduces ambiguity, facilitating smoother skill acquisition.
5. Incorporate Feedback: Encourage feedback throughout the learning process, offering guidance and correction as needed. Feedback helps learners refine their technique, address errors, and reinforce correct execution. Each step is crucial to execute an automatic affluent task. Do this with coaching through the step as opposed to saying they are not executing properly and expecting their body to be able to grasp the sequence without coaching.

Real-World Applications:

Tuned Motor Coaching is the building block that supports principles of sequencing motor tasks and finding application across various domains starting with communication and; including sports,  rehabilitation, and occupational therapy. When assisting the body with prompts and support, it is important to start with the gross or large muscle groups.  Coaches in sports training break down complex movements like golf swings or tennis serves into manageable components to refine technique.

Similarly, in rehabilitation settings, therapists employ sequencing to help patients regain motor function following diagnoses surrounding but not limited to autism, down syndrome, injury or illness, guiding them through progressive exercises tailored to their needs. This is crucial for communication for an apraxic individual as well as everyday activities, such as learning to drive or mastering musical instruments, the principles of coaching the breakdown, with Tuned Purposeful Motor, Sequencing prove invaluable in achieving proficiency. 

Careful consideration of an individuals motor profiles begins with the large muscle groups:

Tuned Purposeful Motor Sequencing motor tasks is a nuanced process that involves careful analysis, strategic planning, and effective communication. By breaking down complex actions into manageable steps, learners can acquire skills more efficiently, leading to improved performance and mastery. In nonspeaking, limited speech, rehabilitation, or everyday life, sequencing is pivotal in unlocking human potential and facilitating growth. Embracing this approach empowers individuals to tackle challenges with confidence, one step at a time. Finding a TPMS specialist is crucial for creating individuals who assess growth and necessary changes. 

Why we start with the gross motor system when we are working towards speech and other communications: 

How many muscles does it take to use your motor system to speak a word?

The process of speaking a single word involves the coordination of numerous muscles throughout the respiratory, phonatory, and articulatory systems. While the exact number of muscles involved can vary depending on factors such as the specific word being spoken, individual physiology, and speaking style, it typically requires the activation of over 100 muscles.

Here’s a rough breakdown of the major muscle groups involved in speech production:

1. Respiratory System: Muscles involved in breathing provide the airflow necessary for speech production. These include the diaphragm, external intercostal muscles, and accessory respiratory muscles such as the abdominal muscles.
2. Phonatory System: Muscles within the larynx (voice box) control the vibration of the vocal folds, producing sound. Key muscles include the thyroarytenoid, cricothyroid, and posterior cricoarytenoid muscles.
3. Articulatory System: Muscles in the oral cavity, pharynx, and tongue shape the airflow from the vocal folds into specific speech sounds. This includes muscles such as the orbicularis oris (lips), buccinator, tongue muscles (e.g., genioglossus, styloglossus, hyoglossus), and muscles of the soft palate (velum).
4. Facial Muscles: Muscles of the face contribute to articulatory movements and facial expressions, aiding in speech clarity and communication. These include muscles such as the zygomaticus, orbicularis oculi, and risorius.
5. Muscles of the Jaw and Neck: Muscles responsible for jaw movement (e.g., masseter, temporalis) and neck support (e.g., sternocleidomastoid, scalene muscles) also play a role in speech production by controlling the position of the articulators.

This breakdown highlights some of the primary muscle groups involved in speech. It’s important to note that speech production is a highly coordinated process involving intricate muscle interactions and precise timing. Additionally, individual variations in anatomy and speaking style can influence the specific muscles recruited during speech production.

This is an automatic action for most individuals, However this is why speech becomes difficult for individuals that have been diagnosed with apraxia. Automaticity must be created to form fluency with the brain and body’s connection through the compromised motor system. This is especially important for fine motor tasks like speech.

The more simple gross/large motor system. 

How many muscles does it take for your arm to point to something in front of you?

Pointing to something in front of you primarily involves the activation of muscles in your arm, forearm, and hand. While the exact number of muscles involved can vary slightly depending on factors such as individual anatomy and the specific method of pointing used, a rough estimate suggests that it requires the activation of around 30 muscles.

Here’s a general breakdown of the major muscle groups involved in pointing:

1. Shoulder Muscles: Muscles in the shoulder region help stabilize the shoulder joint and position the arm. These include muscles such as the deltoid, rotator cuff muscles and muscles of the scapula
2. Arm Muscles: Muscles in the upper arm and forearm are responsible for controlling the movement of the arm. Key muscles include the biceps brachii, triceps brachii, brachialis, brachioradialis, and pronator teres.
3. Forearm Muscles: Muscles in the forearm control wrist and finger movements, which are essential for accurately pointing to a target. These include the flexor and extensor muscles of the wrist, as well as muscles controlling finger flexion and extension.
4. Hand Muscles: Muscles in the hand play a crucial role in shaping the fingers and maintaining grip during pointing. These include intrinsic hand muscles and extrinsic hand muscles.

While this breakdown highlights some of the primary muscle groups involved in pointing, it’s important to note that pointing is a coordinated movement that involves the activation of multiple muscles working together to achieve precise alignment with the target. Additionally, individual variations in anatomy and pointing technique can influence the specific muscles recruited during the pointing gesture. This is a gross motor task and allows for an easier output towards communication, which in turn starts to create automaticity for all motor demand.

Forming Communication through gross motor technique and Fine Tuned Purposeful is a key component to communication and self advocacy bringing true needs wants and desires within each individual to their innovative plan. This allows for a more open communication in how we as professionals and as a society can move forward in helping each individual according to their specific needs not just diagnosis.

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