Hands build a structure using wooden blocks while sitting on the floor.

Coordination and Motor Skills

Everyone wants to move easily, keep their balance, and manage everyday tasks. But for some people, these things can feel much harder or more tiring. This can be because of difficulties with their coordination and motor skills.

You might notice small hand movements feel tricky. Your “fine motor skills” affect tasks like writing, using cutlery or fastening buttons. Or you might notice issues with your bigger movements and “gross motor skills” – making it hard to keep balance, walk, climb stairs, make food or play outside. This can also affect how confident you feel when moving your body.

They can affect people of any age. Children may find tasks like handwriting, using cutlery, tying laces, doing up buttons on clothes, riding bikes or playing ball games difficult. They may appear clumsy, walking less smoothly, or finding it harder to keep up with others their age.

More about coordination and motor skills

What might help with your coordination and motor skills

Young people may notice these difficulties more in sports, in their handwriting speed, organisation or when tasks feel physically tiring. Adults may notice issues with their balance, grip strength or walking pattern. They may have less coordination between one side of the body and the other, and everyday tasks may simply become less safe to perform.

Older adults may notice changes in their balance, muscle strength or mobility. Some people may be slower or feel less confident walking, perhaps falling or worrying about falling.

Difficulties with coordination and motor skills can happen for different reasons. Sometimes they are there from birth but may become more noticeable as someone grows. In other cases, they can start after an illness, injury, or change in health.

Here are some of the potential causes, some people have developmental differences, such as dyspraxia (developmental coordination disorder, or DCD). Some long-term or neurological conditions can affect how the body moves. After a stroke, it can be harder to plan or control movements.

Muscle weakness, low muscle tone or reduced core strength can affect how the body moves and stays balanced. Some people with sensory processing differences will process movement and body position differently, which can affect coordination. For some people, falls or a fear of falling can lead to reduced activity, which can then affect strength and balance over time.
Reduced physical activity, perhaps following a hospital stay, can also lead to reduced strength and confidence in movement. Ageing, pain or injuries may also play a part.

We understand difficulties with coordination and motor skills can feel worrying or frustrating. There are not often quick fixes. But small changes, practised often, can lead to steady progress over time. For instance, you can try exercises to build strength and improve balance. These can help you feel steadier and lower the risk of falls.

For children, getting early support may help them to build important skills and reduce frustration. While for adults, staying active, pacing activities and making plans to stay safe can help you stay independent. You can also often make changes to your home, workplace or daily routine that make tasks easier and safer.