The health of movement recognising movement choices in individuals for long-term health

Abstract

Changes in movement quality, specifically how people coordinate movement, have been identified in people with pain, history of pain and linked to risk of injury, changes in performance and quality of life. The health of movement is a balance between how an individual uses their body to engage with life and an ability to display choices in movement coordination strategies (MCS). The aim of this thesis is to explore the concept that assessing and retraining MCS improves the health of movement. Five core publications are included: two theoretical papers detailing the concept for assessing and retraining MCS; one reliability study establishing robustness of an assessment tool; a case report demonstrating validity and proof-of-concept of assessment and
retaining of MCS; and a morphological study of the serratus anterior muscle illustrating knowledge of anatomical architecture can shape retraining strategies.

The commentary includes the following topics: i) theoretical concept for assessing and restoring the health of movement (Chapter 2); ii) aspects of anatomy and neurophysiological function to support methods of assessment and retraining (Chapter 3); iii) assessment of loss of movement choices (LMC) using cognitive movement control tests to inform retraining (Chapter 4); iv) cognitive movement retraining/movement coaching, a person-centred clinical reasoning
framework to design individual tailored programmes to restore LMC (Chapter 5); v) General discussion - significance, implementation and impact, illustrated over 25 years (Chapter 6).

Results have demonstrated: i) good inter-rater and excellent intra-rater reliability for the assessment tool; ii) testing for LMC can inform retraining and cognitive movement retraining can change biomechanical and neurophysiological measures; and iii) novel findings of morphologically
distinct subdivisions of serratus anterior.
This thesis recommends the assessment of MCS to guide retraining to improve the health of movement. Theoretical concepts presented and research conducted have provided evidence for proof-of-concept and validity and reliability of assessment procedures

More information

Identifiers

Catalogue record

Export record