Context and Goal-Directed Movement: The Effect of Materials-Based Occupation

This exploratory study investigated whether materials-based occupation elicited significantly better movement organization in the ipsilateral arm following left hemisphere stroke than imagery-based occupation. Five persons with left cerebrovascular accident (CVA) and 5 control participants performed functional tasks (e.g., slicing bread) under four conditions. During the materials-based condition, needed tools and objects were available for task completion. In the three imagery-based conditions, either the tool or object of the tool's action was present, or the participant was asked to simulate the task without objects. For all tasks, motor performance of persons with and without CVA was significantly more direct and less forceful during materials-based occupation. Movement time was significantly faster under this condition in three of the four tasks. The relationship between motor performance and context was reinforced. Persons with and without CVA adjusted their motor actions according to the affordances offered during materials-based occupation.