Discoordination vs. Incoordination — What's the Difference?

Discoordination is a term often used to describe a situation where there is a breakdown in the expected order or arrangement of an existing coordination. It implies there was a system or arrangement in place that has been disrupted. Incoordination, on the other hand, refers to a lack of coordination or an inability to coordinate actions effectively. It is often used in medical contexts to describe physical movements that are not smoothly executed or synchronized.

In describing discoordination, one might think of an orchestra where the musicians suddenly start playing out of sync. The expected harmony is disrupted. In the case of incoordination, imagine a toddler learning to walk; the child’s movements are not yet coordinated. The orchestra had a coordination that has been lost, while the toddler is still developing coordination.

When one considers discoordination, it often implies a certain deviation from a previously organized state. It could be used in the context of planning or executing complex tasks. Incoordination, in contrast, is used to indicate a more general and often inherent inability to coordinate, which could be due to a lack of skill, experience, or a physical or neurological condition.

Finally, discoordination might be employed in situations where there is a temporary disturbance causing a coordinated system to falter. Incoordination typically denotes a more pervasive or permanent state of poor coordination, often without reference to a previously coordinated state. For example, discoordination can be observed when a skilled athlete performs poorly due to an injury, whereas incoordination can be seen in someone who has never mastered the skills required for a sport.