Let’s talk about something that shows up in nearly every stroke recovery journey: synergy patterns.
You might not know them by name. But if you’ve ever noticed your arm “wants” to move in one big sweeping motion (instead of just lifting your hand)… or if your leg locks out and kicks forward when you try to take a step—yep. That’s a synergy.
And here’s the thing: synergy patterns are normal after a stroke.
But that doesn’t mean they’re helpful long term
What Are Synergy Patterns?
Synergy patterns are these “stuck-together” movement patterns that the brain falls back on when it’s trying to get muscles to work again—kind of like a survival reflex.
Instead of isolated, controlled motion (like just bending your elbow), you might get a whole chain reaction—shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand all firing at once.
We typically see two types:
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Flexor synergy in the upper body (elbow bent, shoulder elevated, wrist flexed)
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Extensor synergy in the lower body (hip extended, knee straight, ankle plantarflexed)
They’re strongest in Brunnstrom Stage 2–3, when movement is just starting to come back but not under voluntary control.
And that’s the key:
These aren’t movements you’re choosing. They’re movements your brain is defaulting to because the normal control systems are still offline.
So Why Not Use Synergies All the Time?
In the early phases of recovery, synergies are a sign of progress.
They mean the brain is reconnecting with the body—just not with precision yet. It’s like a toddler trying to learn how to color and grabbing the whole crayon box with both hands.
So yes, you might start walking using synergy. Or reaching with it. That’s fine… for a while.
But here’s the catch:
If you rely on synergy too much… it becomes your “normal”. Think of the brain as a computer, using synergies too often, and you have “overwritten” the original code.
Your brain will wire that movement in as your “new normal,” and that window for refining control starts to narrow.
What It Means to “Use Sparingly”
Let’s get real—there are moments when synergy will show up. And that’s okay.
The trick is knowing when to use it to build confidence—and when to pull back and start training isolated control again.
Here’s how I usually coach it:
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✅ Use synergy to get the ball rolling early on. Movement builds motivation.
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❌ Don’t let it become your only strategy once you can do more.
Think of synergy as a training wheel—but the goal is to wean off and reintroduce true motor control:
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Can you lift your arm without shrugging your shoulder?
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Can you step forward without the knee snapping straight?
If yes: good. If not: that’s your new focus.
How This Ties Into Motor Learning
This is why I always say recovery isn’t just physical—it’s neurological.
Synergy-heavy movement is often fast, reflexive, and automatic. That puts it in the “cognitive” or early associative stage of motor learning. You’re still figuring out how to move.
But true control? That only comes with slow, intentional, variable practice.
If you’re constantly “powering through” with big synergy-driven movements, your brain doesn’t get the chance to build better maps.
And better maps = better movement.
Final Takeaway
If synergy is how you started, don’t beat yourself up. That means your brain is trying.
But the question is: are you still using synergy when you don’t need to?
Are you staying in Stage 3 when your brain might be ready for Stage 4?
You don’t have to move perfectly today.
But you do have to move with awareness.
Because every rep you do is either reinforcing a pattern—or refining it.
So, use synergy when you need it. Just don’t settle there.
