Movement therapy for mentally subnormals is an approach which tries to neutralize as much as possible those hindrances which form an impediment for a good motor adaptation. Characteristic movement-situations which are offered methodically, are made use of. The movement therapy approach as a whole can be broken up into two aspects:
(1) the aspect of 'treatment', of 'therapy', an approach that tries to improve the emotional-communicative aspect of motor adaptation, by influencing the subnormars attitude, his mental state. This approach, called 'movement therapy in a narrower sense', should be planned and aim-directed as much as possible.
(2) the aspect of 'training', an approach that tries to increase the physical-coordinative aspect of motor adaptation, by developing and harmonizing sensomotoric basic-conditions for acting and moving in a directed and effective way, or by Tinding compeizsating possibilities. This approach has been called 'movement training' and of ten appears to attended with therapeutic subsidiary effects.
Depending on the level of motor development as well as on the intention of total treatment, sotnetimes these two means of approach will partly overlap. What is not stated as such, bus which nevertheless should be pointed out is the Pact that the two forms of approach should he combined with an adequate accompaniment of the living- and working setting of the subnormal to be treated; seeing the subject this aspect has not been entered into.
An essential dif ference has been made between 'movement therapy' on the one side and 'physiotherapy' on the other.
The description and use of a number of stales in order to give a judgement on the 'total motor behavior of mentally subnormals' has been announced.