Exercises to improve praxis

Different types of praxis include:

• Ideomotor praxis: the ability to perform intentional movements or simple gestures.
• Ideational praxis: the ability to manipulate objects/tools in a sequence of motor actions involving knowledge of object function, knowledge of action, and knowledge of serial order.
• Facial praxis: the ability to perform intentional movements or gestures with different parts of the face: lips, tongue, eyes, eyebrows, cheeks, etc.
• Visuoconstructive praxis: the ability to plan and execute the movements necessary to organize a series of elements in space to draw or copy a figure.

When do we use praxis?

We use praxis when we do any motor activity, basic activities such as talking, smiling, walking, or getting dressed all involve this ability.

5 Exercises to improve praxis with your patients

Last week, we recommended 5 cognitive stimulation worksheets to improve gnosis and today, we recommend five exercises to improve praxis.

1. Getting Dressed

This first activity targets ideational praxis.This exercise involves dressing a doll figure appropriately, taking into account both the part of the body where each item of clothing goes and dressing in a sequential fashion, as well as selecting clothing appropriate to occasion (whether it is hot or cold outside, to go to the beach or the mountain, etc.).

This activity also focuses on procedural memory, body schema, semantic memory, and planning.

2. Mixed Images

In this activity specifically designed for children, kids must move the pieces of the image until they create a complete image.This exercise targets visuoconstructive praxis, planning, and spatial relations.

Can the kids put it together correctly?

This should be the resulting image:

3. Picture Mazes

In this activity, patients must navigate their way through a picture maze. It is an ideal exercise for training sustained attention and alternating attention.

4. Finish the drawings

This paper-based exercise trains visuoconstructive praxis and visual gnosis. It consists of completing the images and objects.

5. Complete the Symmetrical Drawings

In this paper-based activity, patients must complete the following drawings so that they are symmetrical. It is an ideal exercise for training visuoconstructive praxis and hemineglect.