Neural control meets biomechanics in the motor assessment of neurological disorders: a narrative review

The emerging concept of “neurobiomechanics” embodies an integrative approach, bringing together insights from functional anatomy, the physiology of the musculoskeletal and central nervous systems, physics, and computer science. By examining human movement under normal, optimal, and pathological cond...

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Main Authors: Mirjam Bonanno, Paolo De Pasquale, Bartolo Fonti, Elvira Gjonaj, Simona De Salvo, Angelo Quartarone, Rocco Salvatore Calabrò
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Neural Circuits
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fncir.2025.1608328/full
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author Mirjam Bonanno
Paolo De Pasquale
Bartolo Fonti
Elvira Gjonaj
Simona De Salvo
Angelo Quartarone
Angelo Quartarone
Rocco Salvatore Calabrò
author_facet Mirjam Bonanno
Paolo De Pasquale
Bartolo Fonti
Elvira Gjonaj
Simona De Salvo
Angelo Quartarone
Angelo Quartarone
Rocco Salvatore Calabrò
author_sort Mirjam Bonanno
collection DOAJ
description The emerging concept of “neurobiomechanics” embodies an integrative approach, bringing together insights from functional anatomy, the physiology of the musculoskeletal and central nervous systems, physics, and computer science. By examining human movement under normal, optimal, and pathological conditions, neurobiomechanics aims to unravel the intricate mechanisms driving motor function and dysfunction, offering a comprehensive perspective on disorders such as acquired brain injury and neurodegenerative diseases. In this narrative review, we sought to explore the “neurobiomechanics” as a potential approach to investigate both neural and biomechanical aspects of human motion, trying to answer the following questions: (1) “Which technologies can perform a neurobiomechanical assessment in neurological patients?,” (2) “What are the key neurophysiological and biomechanical parameters?,” (3) “How can we translate this approach from research to clinical practice?.” We have found that, to assess/understand a patient’s dysfunctional patterns, it is necessary to evaluate both neurophysiology and biomechanics in a complementary manner. In other words, assessing one aspect without the other is not sufficient, as this may lead to incomplete evaluations from both a functional and methodological perspective.
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language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Neural Circuits
spelling doaj-art-b9f7252a33894c7baa45e1c65bb149532025-08-20T03:30:20ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neural Circuits1662-51102025-06-011910.3389/fncir.2025.16083281608328Neural control meets biomechanics in the motor assessment of neurological disorders: a narrative reviewMirjam Bonanno0Paolo De Pasquale1Bartolo Fonti2Elvira Gjonaj3Simona De Salvo4Angelo Quartarone5Angelo Quartarone6Rocco Salvatore Calabrò7IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino-Pulejo, Messina, ItalyIRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino-Pulejo, Messina, ItalyIRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino-Pulejo, Messina, ItalyIRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino-Pulejo, Messina, ItalyIRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino-Pulejo, Messina, ItalyIRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino-Pulejo, Messina, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical, Dental Sciences and Morphological and Functional Images, University of Messina, Messina, ItalyIRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino-Pulejo, Messina, ItalyThe emerging concept of “neurobiomechanics” embodies an integrative approach, bringing together insights from functional anatomy, the physiology of the musculoskeletal and central nervous systems, physics, and computer science. By examining human movement under normal, optimal, and pathological conditions, neurobiomechanics aims to unravel the intricate mechanisms driving motor function and dysfunction, offering a comprehensive perspective on disorders such as acquired brain injury and neurodegenerative diseases. In this narrative review, we sought to explore the “neurobiomechanics” as a potential approach to investigate both neural and biomechanical aspects of human motion, trying to answer the following questions: (1) “Which technologies can perform a neurobiomechanical assessment in neurological patients?,” (2) “What are the key neurophysiological and biomechanical parameters?,” (3) “How can we translate this approach from research to clinical practice?.” We have found that, to assess/understand a patient’s dysfunctional patterns, it is necessary to evaluate both neurophysiology and biomechanics in a complementary manner. In other words, assessing one aspect without the other is not sufficient, as this may lead to incomplete evaluations from both a functional and methodological perspective.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fncir.2025.1608328/fullneurobiomechanical assessmentcortico-muscular coherencecortico-spinal pathwayneurological disordersneurorehabilitationneurophysiology
spellingShingle Mirjam Bonanno
Paolo De Pasquale
Bartolo Fonti
Elvira Gjonaj
Simona De Salvo
Angelo Quartarone
Angelo Quartarone
Rocco Salvatore Calabrò
Neural control meets biomechanics in the motor assessment of neurological disorders: a narrative review
Frontiers in Neural Circuits
neurobiomechanical assessment
cortico-muscular coherence
cortico-spinal pathway
neurological disorders
neurorehabilitation
neurophysiology
title Neural control meets biomechanics in the motor assessment of neurological disorders: a narrative review
title_full Neural control meets biomechanics in the motor assessment of neurological disorders: a narrative review
title_fullStr Neural control meets biomechanics in the motor assessment of neurological disorders: a narrative review
title_full_unstemmed Neural control meets biomechanics in the motor assessment of neurological disorders: a narrative review
title_short Neural control meets biomechanics in the motor assessment of neurological disorders: a narrative review
title_sort neural control meets biomechanics in the motor assessment of neurological disorders a narrative review
topic neurobiomechanical assessment
cortico-muscular coherence
cortico-spinal pathway
neurological disorders
neurorehabilitation
neurophysiology
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fncir.2025.1608328/full
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