Primitive Reflexes

Primitive reflexes are natural, automatic responses to certain positions and stimuli that your body develops before birth or as a baby. These reflexes allow the baby to exit the birth canal, feed and move after birth. These reflexes are designed to help the child survive and move through specific phases of development, so it is important that they are present for a time and that they disappear after they are no longer needed.

There are several different reflexes, each one existing to help the child develop different functions such as latching, sucking, grasping or extending their arm to allow for rolling over or developing a cross crawl pattern. These reflexes are essential to developing the muscle strength required for crawling, walking, advanced motor skills and proper posture. More importantly, these movements and reflexes lay the framework of the brain and are crucial to its proper development.

One example of this is the development of the cross crawl pattern where the arm and leg on the opposite side are extended out together, this helps build a connective framework between the left and right side of the brain. This framework between the two sides of the brain is important because it allows the brain to make real world connections, critically think and process emotions. If these reflexes do not appear and disappear at the proper time it can cause long term effects that result in a delay in meeting developmental milestones, an increased chance of developing learning disabilities or the development of other effects that last may long into adulthood.

Although the time line with these reflexes are very important, it is important to note that these ages are derived from the average of when these reflexes come and go so some variation may be normal.

Here are three common Primitive Reflexes and what they do

Palmar Grasp: 

This reflex develops in utero and should be present till about 6months. You will notice this response when you touch the baby's palm and they grasp your finger. This response helps the infant develop conscious, voluntary and precise hand use. But may result in delay in crawling and poor handwriting if it persists. 

Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR): 

ATNR should be present from 0-6 months and is seen when a child rotates their head to one side and extends their arm to the same side. ATNR assists with hand-eye regard, building muscle tone for crawling and helps develop the ability to balance. If it persists past 6 months, it can result in poor balance, trouble crawling and impair the ability to roll over. 

Moro:

Moro is a  “fight or flight” response that allows for self preservation. Moro is present when you touch the baby's nose and they blink. This reflex develops in utero and should disappear before 6 months of age. Moro is responsible for helping children take their first breath of air. If this reflex persists past its intended time, it can result in sensory disorders, ADHD, Autism, emotional outbursts and food sensitivities.  

The good news in this, is that even if these reflexes don't come and go when they are supposed to, the brain is very adaptable and these connections can be made even into adulthood.

Chiropractic care plays an important role in this process as it helps clear interference within the nervous system, ensuring that the brain is getting the proper signals from the body so it can properly develop and restructure the brain. Chiropractic care can also help reduce stress on the body allowing the body to focus on healing and making connections in the brain. This calming effect that chiropractic has on the brain can be crucial to helping it process the changes and remodel.

As Doctors of Chiropractors we are taught in depth on neurology and how the brain and nervous system develop, this, along with additional training on working with children allows us to be able to identify what is going on and come up with an effective way to work with it.

Your chiropractor will also guide you through exercises and movements to help the muscles and brain make connections and build strength. After the assessment, the doctor will come up with a plan of care  that will include movement and adjustments specific to your child's needs.