When you think about movement, you don’t necessarily sit back and reflect how the body and brain have worked together to achieve that motion. From the usual daily routines like tying shoelaces to climbing a staircase, such activities rely on motor coordination, something that most individuals never even realise. But for those who are diagnosed with neurological and/or physical disabilities, motor coordination is not natural and does not come so readily. That’s why they need an exercise physiologist under the NDIS physiotherapy services.
With their emphasis on functional gain, exercise physiologists are increasingly becoming a key member of the care team for most NDIS participants. From helping a child with cerebral palsy to improve balance to helping an adult after a stroke to relearn hand-eye coordination, these experts create safe, customised programs that create an impact.
Take a closer look at how exercise physiologists can assist in providing better motor coordination and why NDIS physiotherapy is the perfect partner for doing the same.
Motor Coordination: The Building Blocks of Movement
Motor coordination is how we use two or more limbs of our body in a smooth and efficient way. It’s the manner where we can brush our teeth, catch a baseball, or simply walk without the knowledge of every step of the way.
Two general categories of motor coordination are:
- Large actions like crawling, jumping, or sitting are gross motor skills.
- Precise movements like buttoning a shirt or picking up a pencil are fine motor skills.
Individuals with conditions like autism, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, or head injury, these motor skills can be delayed or impaired. That is why intervention is crucial, and that is where NDIS physiotherapy and exercise physiology come in.
What Does an Exercise Physiologist Do?
An exercise physiologist (EP) is an allied health professional who specialises in clinical exercise interventions for people with chronic disease, injury, or disability. They assess, prescribe, and oversee individualised movement programs for strengthening, endurance, flexibility, balance, and in this case motor coordination.
In the context of NDIS physiotherapy, the exercise physiologist works together with the physiotherapist occupational therapist, and support coordinator to develop a complete, goal-driven plan that suits he participant’s needs.
How Exercise Physiology Maximises Motor Coordination
Here’s how a structured, evidence-based exercise program can enhance motor coordination for NDIS participants:
1. Custom Exercises for Muscle Regulation
EPs prescribe exercises to improve the neuromuscular pathways of movement regulation. These can be strength exercises, functional reach, or balance training. Repeated practice reinforces not only the body but also the brain-body interface to ensure smooth coordination.
2. Repetition and Neuroplasticity
The brain can be modified. Given the right kind of repetitive and learned movement, it reorganises and makes new connections- a process of thinking known as neuroplasticity. EPs take advantage of this to help members ‘retune’ the brain and body to move more effectively.
3. Improving Posture and Core Stability
A stable core underlies nearly all movement. EPs emphasise a great deal of postural control and core activation, especially in cerebral palsy or acquired brain injury. Better posture leads to better movement control, which equates to better coordination.
4. Balance and Proprioception Training
Proprioception is the awareness of body location in space, something most people with impairment in motor coordination struggle with, and movement becomes clumsy or unstable. EPs apply training such as single leg stand, balance boards, and obstacle courses to teach the body’s internal ‘GPS’.
5. Integration with Functional Goals
Be it mastering the tidy art of shoelace-tying, mounting a bicycle, or pushing a trolley, EPs direct programs to the participant’s daily goals. When therapy is functional and relevant, participants are more likely to be motivated to engage and progress.
The Role of NDIS Physiotherapy in Supporting Access to Exercise Physiology
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) supports funding for the support that enables participants to work towards their own goals. This encompasses both exercise physiology and physiotherapy under the Improved Daily Living or Improved Health and Wellbeing categories.
NDIS physiotherapy is a broad umbrella that can include:
- Functional assessments
- Mobility and movement aid
- Relief from pain
- Recovery and rehabilitation
- Acquisition of developmental skills
Through NDIS physiotherapy, participants can work together with an exercise physiologist in a manner that enhances their independence and quality of life.
When to Consider an Exercise Physiologist
You might consider employing the services of an EP under your NDIS physiotherapy funding if:
- You or a loved one has difficulty with motor skills or coordination.
- There is a requirement to enhance physical activity, strength, or endurance.
- You’re recovering from surgery, trauma, or illness that affects mobility.
- A practitioner has ordered complementary treatment alongside physiotherapy.
Most participants enjoy seeing both a physiotherapist (who can address acute injury or pain) and an exercise physiologist (who helps with longer-term movement outcomes). Together, they are a powerful team that can make a significant difference in one’s life.
Conclusion
Remember, coordination development occurs over time. Time, patience, and proper professional advice are all required. A professional exercise physiologist understands this and welcomes every member where they are, respecting every little achievement along the way.
Do you need dedicated, caring, and professional assistance with your NDIS physiotherapy funding? Ability Allied Health can assist. Our professional group of exercise physiologists works with you to create tailored programs that support enhanced coordination, mobility, and wellness. Our goal is to enable each client to move confidently, at their level, with moments that are important to them.
Let’s talk and see how we can assist you in your path. Contact us now!
