Brain trauma can significantly disrupt motor coordination by damaging the areas of the brain responsible for controlling movement. When the brain experiences trauma, such as from a blow to the head or a traumatic brain injury (TBI), the neural pathways that coordinate muscle activity and balance may be impaired. This can lead to difficulties in performing precise movements, maintaining balance, and coordinating complex motor tasks.
The motor cortex and corticospinal tract are critical brain regions involved in motor control. Damage to these areas, often seen in stroke survivors or individuals with brain trauma, results in irregular and impaired motor function, such as difficulty with grip control or fine motor skills[1]. Traumatic brain injury can also affect the brain’s ability to regulate movement through its impact on the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and neuroinflammatory responses, which may alter locomotor behavior and coordination[3].
Repeated head trauma, as seen in chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), can cause progressive motor disorders including tremors, unsteady gait, and speech difficulties. These symptoms arise from the degeneration of brain regions like the hippocampus and amygdala, which are involved in motor and cognitive functions[4]. Similarly, repeated head injuries in young athletes have been linked to movement disorders and problems with impulse control, mood, and coordination[5].
Motor coordination problems after brain trauma can resemble conditions like dyspraxia, where the brain struggles to plan and execute movements. People with dyspraxia often experience poor balance, delayed motor responses, and difficulty multitasking while moving, which can lead to frequent falls and injuries[6]. After brain injury, cognitive fatigue and frustration can also worsen motor coordination, as the brain’s processing capacity is reduced[7].
Rehabilitation and therapies such as aerobic exercise have shown promise in improving motor function after brain injury by promoting neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to rewire itself. Exercise increases dopamine release and synaptic plasticity, which can enhance motor pathways and improve coordination and mood, especially in neurodegenerative conditions like Parkinson’s disease[2]. Additionally, treatments like repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation targeting the motor cortex have been found to reduce symptoms such as headaches and improve motor control in TBI patients[8].
Sources
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12669638/
https://www.centreforbrainhealth.ca/news/exercise-rewires-brain-may-improve-motor-function-and-mood-pd/
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-30105-2
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronic_traumatic_encephalopathy
https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/effects-repeated-head-trauma-young-athletes
https://www.the-independent.com/life-style/health-and-families/dyspraxia-meaning-symptoms-dcd-diagnosis-b2878866.html
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/common-sense-science/202511/when-thinking-takes-work
https://news.va.gov/143566/va-research-wrap-up-suicide-cbd-headaches/
