Frequently Asked Questions

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Primitive reflexes are innate, automatic responses that aid in our survival, developing as early as 5 weeks into gestation, often before the mother is even aware of pregnancy. These reflexes play a crucial role in helping infants to navigate the birthing process and survive childbirth. However, during the first few months of life, these reflexes begin to integrate (as they are no longer essential for survival) and gradually give way to more advanced, voluntary movement patterns and behaviors.

Primitive reflexes establish the neurological basis for our growth and development, serving as a fundamental component in building the groundwork for more advanced motor, cognitive, and social abilities as we mature.

Here are some common reflex examples that many folks may be aware of:

Moro reflex: This reflex causes an infant to throw their arms and legs out, and then quickly bring them back in, in response to a sudden loud noise or movement. This reflex is important for the baby's safety and helps prepare them for the fight or flight response.

Rooting reflex: This reflex causes an infant to turn their head and open their mouth when their cheek is touched, helping them find the breast or bottle for feeding.

Babinski reflex: This reflex causes an infant's toes to fan out and their big toe to lift up when the sole of their foot is stroked. This reflex helps babies to learn how to walk and balance.

Palmer Reflex: This reflex is triggered by placing a finger or object into the infant's palm, causing the infant to automatically grasp it tightly with their fingers. This reflex is believed to serve a protective function in infancy by helping the baby hold onto objects, such as the mother's fingers or breast, and also assists with the development of grip strength and fine motor skills.

When primitive reflexes persist beyond their intended time, the child works primarily out of the brainstem (the most primitive part of the brain), which is responsible for survival instincts. This results in an immature brain that can hinder the development of advanced skills and lead to challenges with movement, coordination, learning, and behavior. Therefore, it is crucial to facilitate the integration of these reflexes and promote the maturation of the brain, enabling the child to access the prefrontal and frontal cortex, which are involved in higher-level thinking and decision-making.

The crucial point to consider is whether your child is struggling in various aspects of life. It might not only be school or sports, but they may also have trouble regulating their behavior at home, leading to tantrums or outbursts. They could lack the skills to maintain an even keel and self-regulate. Your child might work hard at school to please the teacher and then release their emotions at home. Signs can also manifest as difficulties with coordination, fine motor skills like handwriting, or visual motor skills such as eye-hand coordination. These could all be indications of retained reflexes that hinder your child’s progress and hold them back from achieving their goals. 

Our therapy can assist in overcoming these challenges.

Our approach is not to treat a diagnosis but rather to assess the individual's challenges and address them accordingly. While we consider any diagnoses, our evaluation includes an assessment of whether primitive reflexes have been integrated and a discussion with the caregiver. This approach enables us to view the child holistically and tailor a personalized plan of care that meets the needs of both the child and their family.

I am certified in the RMTi (Rhythmic Movement Training International) technique, a program that has been widely taught around the globe. RMTi employs passive movements, active movements, and isometrics to facilitate the integration of retained primitive reflexes. Passive movement refers to actions that I perform for the client, such as gentle rocking, while active movement involves the client's participation with my assistance. Isometrics entail working together to hold a muscle static for a specific duration. All these activities work in tandem to deliberately and directly mature the brain, transitioning the child from using the primitive brainstem to the more complex regions of the brain.

While other clinics may concentrate on gross motor movements like bear crawls, crab walks, and starfish, I have discovered greater success with the RMTi program over the years. I believe that it is more effective and yields quicker results. 

My approach is to view this from a caregiver's perspective and consider what I would want for my own children. Committing to therapy for an extended period can be a significant undertaking for any family, both in terms of time and finances. Therefore, my goal is to assist the child in the best possible way, foster their progress, and enable the family to reclaim their life without being constantly burdened by therapy appointments. From my experience, RMTi is the optimal solution to achieve that objective.

Several experienced colleagues in the field across the country introduced me to RMTi, and after learning of the effectiveness of the program, I became certified in the technique. I was amazed at how successful this treatment was for children and observed significant improvements in client behavior and progress that I had not seen before. I knew that this treatment could not only help children, but also their families. Although not an instant solution, the changes experienced with rhythmic movements can seem almost “magical” for many families. The movements are effective for integrating reflexes, facilitating whole-brain learning, enhancing skills, reducing stress, overcoming learning obstacles, and promoting overall well-being.

I strongly recommend against attempting this on your own. 

The crucial aspects of this program are the proper execution of the exercises, and more importantly, being aware of the contraindications. The safety of your child is of utmost importance. 

Unlike weightlifting at the gym where you can simply focus on repetitions and sets, integrating primitive reflexes requires highly detailed and personalized exercises that promote neurological maturation. It is a delicate process that requires a skilled guide to ensure safety and effectiveness. Without proper guidance, there is a risk of adverse responses such as increased behaviors, tantrums, and struggles for the child. 

My goal is to help your child progress as quickly and safely as possible, and to ensure that your journey is as smooth as possible.

As an occupational therapist, I have developed a comprehensive and holistic approach over the years to assess and address all aspects of a child's needs, using every tool at my disposal. Among these tools, primitive reflex integration has proven to be a highly effective and powerful technique.

To illustrate, let's take a child who is struggling with fine motor skills, such as having weak hands, difficulty with manipulating objects using two hands, or challenges with pre-writing skills. By integrating primitive reflexes, such as the grasp reflex, we have seen a high success rate in improving these skills. If the grasp reflex is still active, for example, the child's palm will automatically close every time they pick up an object, making it difficult to execute tasks that require an open and close motion of the hand, such as buttoning clothes or manipulating toys.

Motion360 Therapy takes a holistic approach to treating children, addressing their emotional, cognitive, and physiological needs to ensure their success. Primitive reflex integration is just one of the many tools we use to help them achieve their fullest potential.

Before your child's first session, we'll ask you to complete an RMTi questionnaire to help us understand your child's current abilities. During the initial evaluation, which typically takes 60-120 minutes, we will administer a standardized test to establish a baseline and develop a personalized plan for your child.

Our treatment plan typically involves weekly on-site therapy sessions. However, we understand that some families may prefer to come in twice a week for further enrichment. We'll work with you to determine the best plan for your child and your family's schedule.

If your child needs to miss school for an appointment at Motion360, we can provide an excused absence note.

The treatment approach for primitive reflex integration is highly individualized. Additionally, each child progresses at their own pace, so a customized plan is essential. It's important to understand that there is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to therapy.

Answering this question can be challenging since each child's response to treatment is unique. However, it's possible to notice changes in behavior and self-esteem shortly after starting treatment, provided caregivers follow through with appointments and the home program (which typically only takes 5 minutes per day). 

These changes may include the child being able to participate in activities they previously struggled with, such as playing with a group of children or getting a haircut without a tantrum. Improvements in coordination, attention to schoolwork, and even stopping bed-wetting episodes are also possible. It is extremely exciting to see the positive impact on a child's life, such as when a child who previously struggled with receiving affection is now able to run into their mother's arms for hugs. 

Each child's progress is unique and individual, making it a fulfilling experience to see the results reported by caregivers and witnessed by therapists.

The home program typically takes no more than 5-10 minutes per night. 

The involvement of caregivers is essential to the success of this program with our younger clients. Older children typically do not require as much oversight from their caregivers. We often encourage caregivers to participate in the movements during the initial session so that they can understand what their child is experiencing. Although these movements may seem simple, they create significant stimulation to the nervous system. Caregivers who experience these effects firsthand are more likely to understand their child's needs and limitations, and are more able to identify requests, actions, or physical signs when their child has had enough.

We usually ask that if a specific caregiver is unable to attend a session and misses the instruction, they come to us directly to learn the technique. We have found that having one caregiver teach another caregiver the techniques can be unsuccessful, as the message may get distorted, similar to the telephone game. This may result in a loss of effectiveness of the exercise, ultimately affecting your child's progress. Therefore, we are always happy to educate caregivers personally to ensure the success of the program for your child.

Monitoring for overload is a crucial aspect of the home program that is tailored for each child's needs. We will teach you certain indicators to watch out for, so you can identify signs of overstimulation before your child even notices it. It's important to follow your child’s lead, even if that means skipping exercises for a day. This may be a sign that their nervous system is not yet ready for the activities, and sometimes doing less can be more beneficial in this type of therapy.

It is uncommon for a child to NOT want to do these exercises, as they usually enjoy them because they simply feel good. However, if your child is resistant, it may be best to take a break for the day. This could be a sign that their nervous system is not ready for the activities at that moment.

We appreciate this program because it is family-friendly and easy to manage, especially for busy families. As parents with kids involved in various activities, we understand how complicated things can get. That's why we utilize a simple plan that works well for busy families. Besides the in-office treatments, we request that families dedicate a few minutes (typically 5) daily to the home program with their child. The home program is equally essential to the success of the program for your child.

Adults can also have retained reflexes that affect their daily life. They will often encounter similar challenges such as coordination issues, difficulty with focus and attention, and being easily distracted. They may also find it challenging to handle loud environments, feel overstimulated easily, become overwhelmed, or experience anxiety, all of which are also common struggles for children. We are thrilled to work with entire families to create a happier and healthier household environment.

We have previously provided treatment to families where both children and caregivers experienced retained reflexes. According to the families, the therapy has significantly improved the family dynamics and the general atmosphere at home. Caregivers have reported feeling less anxious and stressed, and the household has become calmer and more relaxed.

For the program to be effective, it's essential for children to both attend therapy, and complete the home program. We understand that life can get hectic, but consistent attendance is key to achieving success. If you must miss a week due to vacation, illness, or a special event, we can work around it. However, we strongly recommend continuing the home program during that time. We're happy to reschedule your appointment, if necessary, but we want to avoid it becoming a habit. Our ultimate goal is to help you make progress through therapy, so you can enjoy life without having to spend years in therapy.