Sensory Motor Integration
Sensory Motor Integration (SMI) therapy can help increase reaction time, motor skills, memory, cognition, and processing speeds. SMI is strongly researched in the world of brain injuries and developmental delays, and can be adapted to affect many different disorders. We utilize two main forms of SMI here at Revive: BITS and Interactive Metronome.
What Is Sensory Motor (Sensorimotor) Integration?
In order to respond in real time to our environment and navigate our world safely, we must utilize our sensory input to appropriately modulate our motor output. When one’s sensory motor integration is compromised, it can be likened to poor cell phone service. The sensory organs of the body have poor “cell service” when trying to communicate with the brain, so messages do not arrive in a timely manner and are often incomplete.
A simple example of this is when a person sees water on the floor of a shopping mall, and decides to walk around the water to avoid slipping. The eye sends input to the brain, and the brain, as the central computer, processes the information and integrates multiple systems to create the appropriate motor function response to choose a new walking path.
Commonly after a brain injury or stroke, these systems are not integrating properly, which can result in slower processing speeds and inappropriate responses. In our example of the puddle, the person could slip and fall instead of safely navigating around the spill. The integration of our sensory and motor systems is paramount to regaining independence after a brain injury.
Sensory Motor Integration Therapy
Sensory Motor Integration is one of the tools we use at Revive. We often use touch screens to help work with reaction time, visual scanning, spatial orientation, and to be able to drive balance and drive memory and cognition. Sometimes we’ll also use metronomes or metronome devices to be able to do a planned motor activity to the beat of a metronome, and to measure how many milliseconds ahead of the beat or behind the beat the patient is to be able to see if the patient is anticipating something or if the patient is having processing speed issues and falling behind. We can take this information and we can utilize it both diagnostically and therapeutically to achieve the outcomes we’re looking for.
At Revive, we utilize two main technologies to help restore a patient’s sensory motor integration and improve the “cell service” (using the metaphor from earlier) between the sensory organs and brain.
BITS (Bioness Integrated Therapy Systems)
BITS is a touchscreen technology that has a wide variety of therapeutic activities helping to integrate motor and sensory pathways in a variety of areas throughout the brain. BITS measures reaction time and sensory-motor timing. It is used to therapeutically stimulate hand-eye coordination and sensory motor integration.
BITS is intended to challenge and assess the physical, visual, auditory, and cognitive abilities of individuals, including those with deficits resulting from traumatic injuries and movement disorders as well as competitive athletes. At Revive, we utilize many different programs on the BITS technology to restore patients’ sensory motor integration, as well as multiple different forms of memory drills to improve patients’ short-term memory and cognitive abilities.
Interactive Metronome® (IM)
Interactive Metronome® (IM) is an evidence-based assessment and training tool that measures & improves Neurotiming, or the synchronization of neural impulses within key brain networks for cognitive, communicative, sensory, and motor performance. As the individual activates a trigger in time with a steady auditory beat, IM technology provides real-time auditory and visual feedback for millisecond timing. Knowing whether he/she is hitting before, after, or exactly in sync with the beat to the millisecond allows the individual to make immediate, online corrections to improve timing & rhythm over the course of training.
Interactive Metronome® (IM) is used to improve the efficiency of an individual’s internal clock and temporal processing. In turn, it is hypothesized that this results in more efficient brain connectivity, communication, and synchronization via increased integrity of the brain’s white matter tract communication system, producing more efficient communication between critical brain networks. In particular, research and theory suggest that IM training increases the efficacy of the parietal-frontal brain network, the brain network most associated with general intellectual functioning, working memory, controlled attention and executive functions.
Where Can I Get Sensory Motor Integration Therapy?
Here at Revive in Denver, Colorado, we service patients from all over the world while they are here for treatment. We also provide SMI services for our local communities in greater Denver, Boulder, Aspen, and Vail. Contact us today to schedule your appointment.
Conditions That Benefit from SMI
– Stroke
– Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
– Concussion / Post-Concussion Syndrome (PCS)
– Developmental Delays
– Neurodegenerative Disorders
– Depression
– Anxiety
– PTSD
Sensory Motor Integration in Clinical Research
Sensory integration therapy for autism spectrum disorders: A systematic review
Sensory Integration Therapies for Children With Developmental and Behavioral Disorders
A Critique of the Application of Sensory Integration Therapy to Children with Learning Disabilities
Sensory Integration Therapies for Children With Developmental and Behavioral Disorders
A Critique of the Application of Sensory Integration Therapy to Children with Learning Disabilities
Role of the Visual and Auditory Systems in Postural Stability in Alzheimer’s Disease
Visuomotor integration is impaired in early stage Alzheimer’s disease
Out of network for insurance coverage?
No problem.
Our passion is helping those with brain injuries restore quality of life, so we are happy to accept CareCredit, which allows many of our patients to take advantage of a no-interest payment plan.
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