What are primitive reflexes and how can they influence posture?
Primitive reflexes are innate involuntary movements of the baby that are necessary for proper neurological development.
These automatic movements are directed from the brainstem and allow the baby to help descend through the birth canal or suckle during breastfeeding, for example. These reflexes should have a limited lifespan before giving way to postural reflexes, which are movements controlled from higher parts of the brain, allowing for neurological development.
If these primitive reflexes remain active, there will be a weakness or cerebral immaturity that affects not only gross or fine motor skills but also sensory and cognitive perception.
Integrating a reflex involves acquiring a new skill. If the reflex isn't integrated, it requires certain processes to be performed through continuous, conscious effort, leading to exhaustion. There is no automaticity.
If reflexes are not properly integrated, they can cause movement disorders, affect posture, inability to maintain a comfortable posture for a period of time, and constant movement. If detected, the child can identify the cause of the child's difficulties and create a personalized exercise program to integrate these reflexes, which are still active through rhythmic movement therapy (RMT). Symptoms that reflexes can present when they are not integrated:
- Bad posture
- Poor eye-hand coordination, visual-motor problems
- Little balance
- Poor motor coordination
- Laterality problems
- When writing abnormal postures
- Enuresis (problems with bowel control)
- Difficulty learning to ride a bike or do somersaults
- Motion sickness
- Hypersensitivity to light, touch, visual or kinesthetic stimuli
- Hyperactivity
- Poor organization
- Abnormal behaviors due to motor restlessness
- Exaggerated responses to environmental stimuli
For more information, visit: https://www.blombergrmt.es