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Sensory Integration naturally
What is Rhythmic Movement Training?
Rhythmic Movement Training is a practice dedicated to bringing integration and balance to the reflexes of children and adults with specific learning challenges, including ADHD/ADD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Co-ordination difficulties, Autistic Spectrum Disorders and Parkinson’s disease. It can also support people with mild to severe emotional and behavioural challenges, anxiety, panic and general life overwhelm. RMT can also support people with various forms of brain injury.
The practice evolved from the studying of movements and reflex patterns babies naturally make from conception through to walking. Integrate the reflexes and many learning challenges disappear. The results are outstanding, find out more by attending a Rhythmic Movement Training Course.
Areas of the brain that can be developed naturally using RMT
- The Cerebellum
- The Basal Ganglia and the RAS
- The Limbic System
- The Neocortex
- The Prefrontal Cortex
Please Click on the Reflexes below to find out some of the signs and symptoms.
Moro Reflex
The Moro Reflex, sometimes called the infant startle reflex, is an automatic response to a sudden change in sensory stimuli. A sudden change of any kind (bright light, change in body position, temperature, loud noise, intense touch, etc.) can trigger the Moro Reflex.
Some possible long-term effects of an un-integrated Moro are:
- Easily triggered, reacts in anger or emotional outburst
- Poor balance and coordination
- Poor stamina
- Poor digestion, tendency towards hypoglycemia
- Weak immune system, asthma, allergies and infections
- Hypersensitivity to light, movement, sound, touch & smell
- Vision / reading / writing difficulties
- Difficulty adapting to change
- Cycles of hyperactivity and extreme fatigue
Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex (TLR)
TLR provides the baby with a means of learning about gravity and mastering neck and head control outside the womb. This reflex is important for giving the baby the opportunity to practice balance; increase muscle tone; and develop the proprioceptive and balance senses. The TLR interacts with other reflexes to help the infant to start developing coordination, posture and correct head alignment.
It is vital for the TLR to do its job because correct alignment of the head with the rest of the body is necessary for balance, eye tracking, auditory processing, muscle tone and organized movements - all of which are essential to the development of our ability to focus and pay attention.
Some possible long-term effects of an un-integrated TLR are:
- Balance and coordination difficulties
- Hunched posture
- Easily fatigued
- Poor muscle tone
- Difficulty judging distance, depth, space and speed
- Visual / speech / auditory difficulties
- Stiff jerky movement
- Toe walking
- Difficulty walking up and down stairs
Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR)
The ATNR is important for developing homolateral one-sided movements. When the infant turns his head to one side, the arm and leg of that side automatically extend. In utero the ATNR provides the necessary stimulation for developing muscle tone and the vestibular system. It assists with the birth process, providing one of the means for the baby to "corkscrew" down the birth passage. ATNR also provides training in hand- eye coordination. By six months of age, this reflex should evolve into more complex movement patterns. If the ATNR remains active it plays a significant contribution to academic problems at school.
Some possible long-term effects of an un-integrated ATNR are:
- Dyslexia
- Reading, listening, hand writing and spelling difficulties
- Difficulty with math
- Confused handedness
- Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (STNR).
The STNR is not a primitive reflex. It is transitional. It is an important developmental stage that transitions the baby from lying on the floor up to being able to crawl. At this stage in development, movement of the head is automatically linked to movement of the arms and legs. If the STNR remains active, it is another main cause of inability to function in school. This is because up and down head movements remain linked to arm and leg movements, making school work effortful and difficult.
Some possible long-term effects of an un-integrated STNR are:
- Poor, hunched posture
- Headaches from muscle tension in the neck
- Difficulty writing and reading
- Difficulty sitting still
- “W" sitting
- Difficulty copying from blackboard
- Ape-like walking
- Vision disorders
- Find it difficult to stay on task
Spinal Galant & Spinal Pereze
The Spinal Galant & Spinal Pereze Reflexes works in conjunction with the ATNR to help the baby's journey down the birth canal. It is also thought to help babies balance and coordinate the body for belly crawling and creeping. It is thought to be connected to bladder function because a high percentage of children who are bedwetting past age 5 have an active Spinal Galant reflex.
Some possible long-term effects of an un-integrated Spinal Galant and Pereze are:
- Bedwetting especially past 5 years old
- Poor endurance
- Attention difficulties
- Hip rotation to one side/scoliosis
- Poor concentration
- Poor coordination
- Poor posture
- Poor short-term memory
- Fidgeting/hyperactivity
Other Reflexes
We also look at the following foot, hand and oral reflexes - the Babinski, Plantar, Palmar, Hands Pulling, Grasp, Amphibian, Rooting, Suck and Babkin reflexes and their role in learning and development especially for coordination, writing and language development.
Some possible long-term effects of an un-integrated foot, hand and oral reflexes are:
- Speech delay or difficulties
- Swallowing problems
- Poor social behaviour
- Dribbling and drooling
- Poor manual dexterity
- Poor pencil grip
- Handwriting difficulties
- Loose, easily sprained ankles
- Toe walking
- Flatfooted or walking on sides of feet/hip rotation
- Difficulty expressing written ideas
Fear Paralysis Reflex (FPR)
The FPR is a withdrawal reflex that emerges in the embryonic stage. It is a total body withdrawal away from stimulus that is normal in utero. The baby in utero reacts to this stimulus by withdrawing inward and freezing. As the fetus' tactile awareness develops, withdrawal upon contact gradually lessens. It is thought that this reflex is the first step in learning to cope with stress. Ideally, FPR merges into the Moro reflex and has become inactive before birth. If the FPR is not fully integrated at birth, it may contribute to life-long challenges related to fear. People with the FPR active may often be very anxious and tend to veer towards negativity, which can prevent them from easily moving forward to living a meaningful, interactive life. An active FPR often goes hand-in-hand with an un-integrated Moro reflex.
Some possible long-term effects of an un-integrated FPR are:
- Shallow, difficult breathing
- Underlying anxiety or negativity
- Insecure, low self-esteem
- Depression/isolation/withdrawal
- Constant feelings of overwhelm
- Extreme shyness, fear in groups
- Excessive fear of embarrassment
- Fear of separation from a loved one, clinging
- Sleep & eating disorders
- Feeling stuck
- Elective mutism
- Withdrawal from touch
- Aggressive or controlling behaviour, craves attention
- Extreme fear of failure, perfectionism
- Phobias, OCD
- Low tolerance to stress
How do the Rhythmic Movements work ?
The rocking and sliding movements stimulate the senses and help develop the nerve networks from the Cerebellum to the Basal Ganglia ( Brain Stem) through to the Limbic system (the emotional brain), the Neocortex (The two hemispheres) through to the Prefrontal cortex. If the person cannot do certain movements rhythmically, smoothly and symmetrically, this is a clear indication of a lack of integration and by doing the movements passively should start to stimulate and integrate that reflex. Some of the movements are done isometrically, which has a stronger effect. All have a powerful and positive effect and should improve development, helping children and adults to reach expected milestones.
Who can use Rhythmic Movement Training?
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What are the Primitive and Postural reflexes ?
The Primitive and Postural reflexes are the foundation building blocks of brain development that start a few weeks after conception and should be integrated by the age of 4 - 5 years, before going into the learning environment.
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| Asymmetrical Tonic Neck reflex | An example of an un-integrated STNR | |
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| The Moro reflex | The Babinski reflex |
The Primitive reflexes develop the motor movement beginning in utero and during the first few months after the birth. The Primitive reflexes and the essential vestibular system are the first to develop and need to integrate sufficiently before the Postural reflexes can do their job efficiently. An un-integrated Fear Paralysis reflex and/or the Moro reflex ( known as the “survival” reflexes) can have severe effects on learning abilities, phobias, behaviour, health and many life skills. Symptoms can clearly be seen in children and adults. Using RMT can make profound and positive changes.
The Postural reflexes develop muscle tone and are life long in supporting our general upright posture and balance with gravity. Some neck and back problems eg Scoliosis, upper back, lumbar, hip and walking problems etc, could be due to un-integrated postural reflexes. Improving the reflexes can improve muscle tone and difficulties will clear naturally.
Why are the reflexes important?
If the reflexes have not been able to integrate efficiently, for which there are various reasons, the visual, auditory, kinesthetic, tactile, vestibular and motor senses will not develop properly. If any of the primitive and postural reflexes are un-integrated, this can affect further developmental stages of perception, language, speech, conceptualisation and academia. Any un-integrated senses can affect the true potential and performance in the individual and can be carried into adulthood and the workplace.
Learning strategies and compensations
Some people do finds ways of compensating for their difficulties but will mean they have to put a lot more effort in to achieve. They may reach a point when in the workplace and put under a lot of pressure and stress that their compensation strategies disappear and let them down. Breakdowns, overwhelm, bad behaviour, ill health and other stress related symptoms will start to show in the workplace.
These are a few common symptoms of Neural Developmental Delays due to un–integrated reflexes
You may recognise some of these symptoms in the home, classroom, the workplace, in sports and the performing arts. Clearing the reflexes, many of these symptoms can disappear and expected milestones can be achieved.
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How do the reflexes develop?
We are born with an inborn movement and reflex programme and scientists now know movement stimulates the neural connections to improve communication throughout the different areas of the brain. Baby movements stimulate the reflexes that helps develop the Visual, Auditory, Motor, Vestibular and Kinesthetic senses essential to all life skills.
Can the Rhythmic Movements help ADHD, behaviour and attention problems?
Yes. The Basal Ganglia and the RAS needs to have had enough stimulation, as this area helps to keep your attention, manage your fine motor abilities and to be able to sit still for any length of time. Children with ADHD, the Basal Ganglia and Prefrontal cortex may not be sufficiently connected. Using the Rhythmic Movements to integrate these two essential areas should help children and adults with ADHD without the need for medication to be given to control behaviour.
These are a few examples that can affect late development of the reflexes:
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Can the reflexes be improved for any age group and any ability?
The Rhythmic Movement Training programme is an outstanding technique to help stimulate and integrate any late development of the reflexes for any age and any ability. Adults and children with severe disabilities greatly benefit from these movements as many won’t have been able to stimulate the reflexes naturally or because of damage to the brain for various reasons.
My training
I was trained by Dr Harald Blomberg, the originator of RMT. He is a Swedish psychiatrist and has been researching and working with the reflexes very successfully with children and adults for over 25 years. He lectures all over the world.
His website, for your interest is : www.haraldblomberg.com or www.rhythmicmovement.com or www.rhythmictraining.co.uk
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