Neuromotor function is the control of movement by the nervous system: how the brain and nerves plan, initiate and correct the work of the muscles. It includes coordination, balance, reaction and proprioception (the sense of body position).
With age, neuromotor control declines, which raises the risk of falls; so training it is an important part of healthy longevity alongside cardiorespiratory fitness.
How neuromuscular control works
Movement arises from the "nerve–muscle" pairing. The basic unit is the motor unit: one motor neuron and all the muscle fibers it innervates. Force grows in two ways: through more frequent impulses and through the recruitment of new motor units (by Henneman's size principle — from weak to strong). The brain relies on proprioception, reflexes, pre-learned muscle synergies and motor programs to make movements precise and stable.
What changes with age
Over the years, nerve cells conduct signals more slowly, reflexes and sensitivity weaken, and the volume of the brain and the number of neurons gradually decrease. All this worsens coordination, balance and reaction speed and raises the likelihood of falls. Neuromotor decline is compounded by the loss of muscle mass — sarcopenia — so in older people both strength and the control of it suffer.
How to assess and maintain it
Neuromotor function is assessed with tests of balance, coordination and reaction time, as well as tasks for trunk stability — for example, holding a plank. The good news: balance and coordination training, strength and aerobic exercise help preserve movement control, and physical and mental activity support neuroplasticity — the brain's ability to rebuild connections between neurons.
Calculate using this marker
Calculators where Neuromotor function is used directly:
Frequently asked questions
What is a motor unit?
It is one motor neuron and all the muscle fibers it controls. The force of a movement depends on the frequency of its impulses and the number of units engaged.
Can coordination and balance be improved in old age?
Yes. Regular balance and coordination exercises, as well as strength training, help preserve neuromotor control and reduce the risk of falls.