Sensory Retraining for Motor Recovery - Introduction to Cognitive Multisensory Rehabilitation (CMR)

Overview

Somatosensory input is fundamental to human movement. Every purposeful action - from reaching and grasping to precise object manipulation - depends on the integration of sensory perception, cognitive processing, and motor execution. When somatosensory function is impaired, motor recovery is significantly compromised.

This Embodia course, Sensory Retraining for Motor Recovery: Introduction to Cognitive Multisensory Rehabilitation (CMR), presented by Marc Aureli Piqué Batalla, introduces clinicians to the principles, clinical evidence, and practical application of Cognitive Multisensory Rehabilitation (CMR).

Grounded in the cognitive therapeutic exercise framework developed by Carlo Perfetti, CMR integrates sensory discrimination, attention, memory, and body representation to drive meaningful neuroplastic change. This course explores how CMR differs from traditional motor-focused approaches and how it can be applied across neurological, orthopedic, and chronic pain populations.

Clinicians will gain a deeper understanding of how sensory impairments influence motor dysfunction - and how targeted cognitive-sensory retraining can enhance functional outcomes.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Explain the role of somatosensory input in motor control and functional action.

2. Describe the theoretical foundations underpinning Cognitive Multisensory Rehabilitation (CMR).

3. Identify common somatosensory impairments in stroke, chronic pain, and orthopedic conditions.

4. Differentiate passive sensory stimulation from active sensory discrimination approaches.

5. Summarize current clinical evidence supporting CMR in neurorehabilitation and pain populations.

6. Integrate cognitive-sensory retraining strategies into rehabilitation practice.

7. Apply hypothesis-driven, individualized CMR tasks to clinical case scenarios.

Audience

This course is designed for:

• Physiotherapists

• Occupational therapists

• Rehabilitation professionals

• Neurological rehabilitation clinicians

• Therapists working in chronic pain or orthopedic settings

• Clinicians seeking evidence-informed sensory retraining strategies

Why This Course Matters

The Overlooked Link Between Sensation and Motor Recovery

Research consistently demonstrates strong correlations between somatosensory impairments and motor deficits following stroke and other neurological conditions. Post-stroke sensory dysfunction affects tactile sensation, stereognosis, and proprioception in a substantial proportion of patients — directly influencing functional recovery.

Similarly, chronic pain conditions such as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome and phantom limb pain involve altered cortical representation and disrupted sensory processing.

Despite this evidence, sensory retraining remains underutilized in rehabilitation practice. Many clinicians focus primarily on strength, task repetition, and compensation — often overlooking the sensory-cognitive components of movement control.

What Makes CMR Different?

Cognitive Multisensory Rehabilitation:

• Emphasizes active sensory discrimination, not passive stimulation

• Engages attention, perception, memory, and body representation

• Uses individualized, hypothesis-driven tasks

• Targets neuroplasticity through meaningful cognitive engagement

• Addresses both sensory and motor impairments simultaneously

Emerging evidence demonstrates improvements in:

• Arm and hand motor function

• Stereognosis and tactile discrimination

• Functional activity participation

• Sustained outcomes at one-year follow-up

CMR provides clinicians with a structured yet adaptable framework to move beyond compensation and toward true sensorimotor restoration.