MOTOR SKILL ACQUISITION STRATEGIES FOR REHABILITATION OF LOW-BACK-PAIN

Evidence supporting the early use oi exercise for the treatment oi low back pain continues to grow We must keep in mind, however, that motor skill learning and exercise are not synonymous, ii rehabilitation goa ls are limited to the improvement of physical parameters (ie., strengt h, flexibility, endurance), the opportunity to help patients improve t he performance oi functional activities will be missed. The motor lear ning literature suggests several strategies for facilitating the acqui sition of a motor skill: transfer-appropriate processing, the contextu al interference effect, and repetitive self-evaluation. These techniqu es will cognitively challenge patients, helping them gain skills more quickly and retain them longer. By incorporating these methods into th e rehabilitation program, patients will better transfer what they have learned from the rehabilitation environment to their everyday functio nal activities.