Cognitive Strategies to Improve Upper Limb Motor
Performance (Recorded Webinar)

Video Runtime: 70 Minutes; Learning Assessment Time: 23 Minutes

This course is a recording of a previously hosted live webinar event. Polling and question submission features are not available for this recording. Format and structure may differ from those of standard Medbridge courses.

In neurorehabilitation, upper limb recovery is influenced not only by motor training but also by how the brain regulates attention, planning, and physiological arousal. This webinar examines the role of executive function, attentional control, and interoceptive awareness—such as breath and autonomic regulation—in supporting upper limb performance following neurological injury. Participants will explore how cognitive load can be both a barrier and a therapeutic lever. Through intentional modulation of cognitive and attentional demands, therapists can promote motor planning, coordination, and generalization of performance from the clinic to real-world environments. While the foundational neuroscience linking executive function, attention, autonomic regulation, and motor control is well established, the direct clinical application of these systems to upper limb motor performance remains a growing and evolving area of research. This course thoughtfully integrates current evidence with practical strategies to support neuroplasticity and functional carryover. Designed for occupational and physical therapists working in neurorehabilitation, this session offers a clinically relevant, neuroscience-informed framework that encourages innovation without overreach, equipping clinicians to better support recovery through cognitive and regulatory systems.

Learning Objectives

• Determine at least three ways that executive function, attention, and interoceptive/autonomic processes influence upper limb motor performance in individuals with neurological conditions
• Implement at least two objective measurement tools (e.g., heart rate variability, surface EMG, smartwatch heart rate monitoring) and one subjective assessment (e.g., NASA-TLX) to assess cognitive or attentional workload during motor performance
• Modify therapeutic tasks by grading cognitive and attentional demands to enhance motor planning and performance in upper limb rehabilitation
• Apply clinical strategies—including attentional cueing, dual-tasking, and breath-focused regulation—to promote generalization of upper limb skills to real-world settings
• Interpret data from cognitive and physiological workload tools (e.g., HRV, EMG, NASA-TLX) to inform clinical decision-making during task progression
• Prepare a treatment plan that incorporates cognitive and interoceptive strategies into an existing upper limb neurorehabilitation protocol to address barriers to carryover in daily activities