2022, Vol. 26 ›› Issue (20): 3256-3264

Motor coordination: evolution of theoretical model and quantitative method

Wang Jiawei, Liu Ye   

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Motor coordination is an important part of human motor ability, and it is of great significance to explore its rules to understand the coordination and control of “nerves-muscles-joints” in human locomotor system.
OBJECTIVE: To review the evolution of theoretical models and quantitative methods of motor coordination through systematic analysis of domestic and foreign research literature on motor coordination.
METHODS: We retrieved PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCO and CNKI Full-text databases using the keywords of “motor coordination, segment coordination, muscle synergy, equilibrium point, uncontrolled manifold” in English and “motor coordination, joint coupling, joint coordination, muscle synergy, vector coding, motor control” in Chinese. There was no limitation to the time of literature retrieval. Finally, 111 eligible literatures were included and reviewed.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: In the current theoretical model of motor coordination, the dynamic system theory, uncontrolled manifold hypothesis, and the muscle synergy hypothesis have been most useful and widely applied. The corresponding quantitative methods are also evolving. Continuity analysis has great potential to explore the coordination characteristics of the joint under periodic and aperiodic relative motion. Muscle synergy analysis can be used to identify the muscle synergy strategies in different groups. It is suggested that research on motor coordination in China should combine the analysis of joint coordination mode and neuromuscular cooperative control strategy based on improving the exploration of basic theories and the use of various quantitative methods, so as to better understand the coordination law of nerves-muscles-joints.
Key words: joint coordination, muscle synergy, equilibrium-point hypothesis, uncontrolled manifold, dynamic system