Movement is a foundation of physiotherapy rehabilitation. A sub group of patients have very poor coordination and this interferes with traditional rehab. Other patients just seem to have tightness in muscles that does not go way. This is frequently due to a retained primitive reflexes (PR).
Primitive reflexes are brain stem-mediated, complex automatic movement patterns that commence in utero. If PR are present they will influence normal motor control and can interfere with normal rehabilitation. There are many possible reasons for the presence of primitive reflexes in seemingly normal adults (e.g., neurologically intact – without neurological hard signs). Note: The picture for the blog post includes conditions that will have neurological hard signs.
From the literature it does appear that anything that influences the efficiency / function of the frontal lobe will compensate and “release” the brain stem reflexes. Hence sometimes, primitive reflexes are called “frontal release signs”.
This becomes important with our intervention of primitive reflex inhibition because some of these are modifiable and some are not modifiable. Others we are not sure about (e.g., psychiatric conditions that are managed well such as addictions).
The best outcome is when the cause is from a “one-time” incident (e.g., atypical birth history, concussion). These people do very well with primitive reflex inhibition and can be very profound in some cases. So it is important to explore causation (e.g., birth history, physical trauma, behavioral conditions). It is quite simple in many ways – if you don’t move well, go back to when you learned how to move!
Ongoing conditions (e.g., psychiatric) will get good temporary changes with the intervention. While those with progressive neurological disorders will be temporary improvements for variable periods. This is relatively short lived. Depending on the benefit the clients receive, you could decide on a maintenance exercise program.
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