The role of mirror mechanism in the recovery, maintenance, and acquisition of motor abilities

•Action observation sustains motor skills recovery, maintenance, and acquisition.•Action Observation Treatment (AOT) applies to traumatological conditions, brain injuries and neurodegenerative diseases.•AOT could favor the maintenance of proper motor behavior in subjects at risk for events with severe physical consequences.•AOT can promote the tuning of existing motor competencies, especially in fields requiring precise motor control.•Signal processing, wearable sensors and immersive virtual reality can help overcoming initial AOT limitations. While it is well documented that the motor system is more than a mere implementer of motor actions, the possible applications of its cognitive side are still under-exploited, often remaining as poorly organized evidence. Here, we will collect evidence showing the value of action observation treatment (AOT) in the recovery of impaired motor abilities for a vast number of clinical conditions, spanning from traumatological patients to brain injuries and neurodegenerative diseases. Alongside, we will discuss the use of AOT in the maintenance of appropriate motor behavior in subjects at risk for events with dramatic physical consequences, like fall prevention in elderly people or injury prevention in sports. Finally, we will report that AOT can help to tune existing motor competencies in fields requiring precise motor control. We will connect all these diverse dots into the neurophysiological scenario offered by decades of research on the human mirror mechanism, discussing the potentialities for individualization. Empowered by modern technologies, AOT can impact individuals' safety and quality of life across the whole lifespan.