Primitive Reflexes Stress and Trauma

Published on 20th November 2024

Many children, and even adults, often struggle to regulate their emotions, process information effectively, and interact with others appropriately. These challenges can manifest as:

Being overly sensitive or unresponsive to sensory input such as sounds, smells, tastes, or interactions with people.

Difficulty with reading, writing, concentrating, and behaving appropriately in school settings.

Struggles with physical activities like riding a bike, swimming, or climbing.

Such developmental delays are frequently linked to factors such as trauma, insufficient stimulation, and living in unstimulating environments before and after birth. However, there is another, often overlooked, cause—one that can be addressed with relative ease.

The Role of Primitive Reflexes

Primitive reflexes are innate motor responses that we are born with, typically integrated within the first year of life as they outlive their usefulness. Examples include the sucking reflex, rooting reflex, and plantar grasp (where a baby’s toes curl when the sole of their foot is stroked). However, two specific reflexes—the Moro (startle) reflex and the Fear Paralysisreflex—can persist in children. When not integrated, these reflexes are believed to contribute to challenges with learning, behavior, anxiety, emotional regulation, and overwhelm.

These reflexes are closely tied to the stress response:

The Moro reflex is associated with the fight-or-flight response.

The Fear Paralysis reflex is linked to the freeze response.

Through guided exercises, often led by a Rhythmic Movement Consultant, these reflexes can be integrated. The result? More regulated and balanced children.

The Importance of Crawling

One simple yet profoundly effective step toward helping children is ensuring they learn to crawl properly. Crawling, particularly contralateral crawling (moving the left leg and right arm simultaneously, and vice versa), is a critical milestone in neurodevelopment.

Unfortunately, many children miss out on this key stage due to modern practices like being carried in car seats or not spending enough time on the floor. Some children bottom-shuffle or crawl homolaterally (same side arm and leg), which does not provide the same benefits.

Benefits of Crawling

According to Occupational Therapy for Children, crawling offers a wide range of developmental benefits:

Improves Coordination and Strength

Develops balance, muscle tone, and hand-eye coordination essential for future activities like reading, writing, and sports.

Enhances Bilateral Integration

Requires both hands, legs, eyes, and ears to work together, fostering better coordination between the left and right brain.

Stimulates Cognitive Development

The repetitive movements of crawling stimulate brain activity, improving concentration, memory, comprehension, and attention.

Integrates Sensory Information

Helps babies process sensory input, develop spatial awareness, and improve visual and auditory systems, including binocular vision and binaural hearing.

Strengthens the Vestibular System

Crawling activates the inner ear, enhancing balance and motor skills.

Provides Sensory Stimulation

Weight-bearing through hands and knees aids gross and fine motor development and introduces the baby to various tactile sensations.

Beyond Crawling: Rhythmic Movement Training

While crawling is foundational, it’s just the beginning. Rhythmic Movement Training (RMT) is the next critical step in calming hyperactive and immature neurological systems. RMT exercises support the development of executive functioning and improve focus, paving the way for more effective engagement in therapeutic interventions like Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP).

 

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