EM465: Functional synergies and motor control: new perspectives in neurological rehabilitation

Scientific and clinical rationale

Motor control is a complex and dynamic function that emerges from the interaction between the neuromusculoskeletal system, task, and environment. It is not a static process, but rather an adaptive phenomenon that allows individuals to maintain stability and orientation in space in relation to contextual demands and environmental variability.

In recent years, research in the neuroscience of sensorimotor control of  movement has shown that stability is not the result of simple segmental muscle control, but derives from the organization of groups of synergies (muscular and/or articular), i.e., functional neural coordination that emerges from the central nervous system in interaction with the environment to manage motor variability and  ensure its adaptability.

The most recent neurophysiological studies on motor control show that the nervous system does not eliminate variability, but facilitates families of motor solutions to preserve the stability of the action. This paradigm shift has significant clinical implications: the focus shifts from “correcting individual muscles” to understanding overall coordination and movement organization. Despite growing scientific output, there remains a gap between theoretical knowledge and everyday clinical application.

The workshop therefore stems from the need to translate theoretical models of motor control into concrete tools for assessment and rehabilitation intervention, with the added value of drawing on the knowledge of researchers and clinicians who are experts in the field.

The first day, led by Prof. Daniele Piscitelli, PT, PhD, physiotherapist and researcher in the field of motor control and neurological rehabilitation, will be dedicated to exploring the latest scientific evidence on the subject, with a particular focus on theoretical reference models and their clinical implications.