Could primitive reflexes have an impact on your child’s brain function and motor development?
During all of my pediatric new patient examinations, I check for primitive reflexes. When a baby is born, there are certain reflexes that come naturally such as rooting reflex (when you lightly stroke from the baby’s mouth to cheek, the response should be to turn the head towards that side) to help the baby nurse or palmar reflex (when you touch the baby’s palm, the response should be to make a fist) to help the baby grab items and formulate the sense of touch. These reflexes are present from approximately birth to 6 months. At that point, they should integrate as the baby grows and the brain develops. What that ultimately means is that higher neurological centers in the brain begin to develop and the reflexes are no longer needed.
These reflexes help integrate specific motor development in the child. And that motor development should occur in a specific order. There are basic movements that must be accomplished by the infant before other movements can be added successfully. I want to make sure that the child learned to roll over front to back and back to front and did so efficiently left to right and right to left. I want to make sure that the child crawled before walking, and more importantly, I want to make sure that the child learned to cross-crawl and not army crawl, scoot across the floor, or crawl with just one side of the body.
Examples of a few primitive reflexes and exercises used to extinguish the response.
What I'm seeing a lot of nowadays and what's mentioned in the article “This could be what’s behind your kid’s problem in school” is retained primitive reflexes and issues with fine motor skills and even sensory and hyperactivity disorders. This is one reason why I love chiropractic care for kids. As a chiropractor, I’m looking at the brain-body connection, nervous system function, making sure that the sensory information coming into the brain is optimal ensuring that we have a proper response. Primitive reflex testing is not something most pediatricians do during routine well-check visits and annual physicals, but when it's recognized and exercises are implemented, it's great to see fine motor skills and behavior improve.
In a research study by pediatric chiropractor Dr. Drew Rubin, he looked at 8 children who had 3 things in common: they presented with varying levels of neurodevelopmental issues, each child received chiropractic care, and each child received primitive reflex extinguishing exercises.
The addition of primitive reflex reduction in conjunction with pediatric chiropractic care provided a marked level of improvement to children who had mild to severe symptoms. Younger children who had trouble talking showed improved communication. Elementary aged children and pre-teens that were socially uncomfortable displayed new ability at forming friendships for the first time in their lives. Children who had trouble focusing showed improved focus, noticed not only by their parents but also by their teachers.
Just as each patient who comes into my office is different, each child who presents with positive primitive reflexes is different. Because one child has a positive palmar reflex doesn’t mean they will present with the same symptoms as another child who has the same palmar reflex present. And also, your child doesn’t have to have a diagnosed sensory processing disorder or a neurodevelopmental disorder for there to be retained primitive reflexes.
So How Are the Reflexes Extinguished
For some of these reflexes, certain movements can be done to help extinguish the response such as cat/cow, child’s pose, and working on proper crawling technique. For some of these reflexes, simple brushing techniques are used to extinguish the response such as brushing the cheeks, the palms, or the feet. These exercises are done after the adjustment, and I usually give the parents at-home assignments as well.
The results I’ve seen from chiropractic care combined with primitive reflex work have been life-changing for not only the kids but for their families as well.
Kids who haven’t held a pencil correctly or written their name at 5 years old begin to write legibly and enjoy coloring.
Kids who “W” sit and exhibit low muscle tonicity begin to “criss cross apple sauce” and develop a stronger core.
Kids who have a motor tic and impaired immune function begin to no longer display the tic and have improved immune function.
Kids who have an oral fixation with their hands always in their mouth or food sensory issues no longer exhibit those behaviors.
Kids who have anxiety begin to build resiliency and can adapt to stressors better.
And so much more!
What I have found, and similar to Dr. Rubin’s research study, is that when primitive reflex exercises are introduced along with chiropractic care, we see great and lasting improvement in fine motor skills, behavior, and the overall health and wellness in kids!
~ Dr. Shannon