08/06/2021
✨Let’s talk primitive reflexes✨
We’re all born with something called primitive reflexes. They help us survive in utero and help with development as we grow from babies to toddlers.
For example, the spinal galant reflex creates side bending movement in response to touch on the back, which helps baby rotate as it passes through the birth canal. This reflex is the foundation for higher-level learning and development like head control, crawling and walking.
🧠However, we do want primitive reflexes to integrate (go away) by toddlerhood. Once a primitive reflex disappears it makes room for more mature movement patterns by creating new neural pathways in the brain.
If a primitive reflex is still present beyond its age-appropriate time to disappear it disturbs natural development and can contribute to challenges with motor development, school performance and social relationships.
Common signs of retained primitive reflexes:
⚡️Poor hand-eye coordination
⚡️Low muscle tone
⚡️Poor balance and coordination
⚡️Fidgety (sitting in class, dinner table)
⚡️Motion sickness or dizziness
⚡️Poor short term memory
⚡️Difficulty focusing or concentrating
⚡️Hypersensitivity light, sound, movement or touch
⚡️Challenges with fine motor skills
What do you do if you think you or your child has a retained primitive reflex?
1️⃣Test for them. If present, we can review simple at home exercises to help them integrate.
2️⃣In the meantime, start incorporating more natural and primal movements into your day. Essentially, pretend you’re 5 years old again and playing outside!
⭐️Climbing (park, trees)
⭐️Swinging (monkey bars, branches)
⭐️Crawling (through/over objects, bear crawls)
⭐️Ball games (golf, catch, spikeball, tennis)
⭐️Swinging
⭐️Spinal movements (cat camel, superman)
