Reflexes . . . Integration . . . What???

Imagine for a moment… a one-year-old child trying to ride a bicycle on his own: pedals, balance, no parent help—the whole deal! There may be some 12-month humans who would possess the determination and perseverance to keep at it and get it, but I’ll wager most will be melting down with the effort or simply walking away.

There’s simply not enough development to handle such a complex task at this age.

This is what I imagine it’s like for some of my students when they are trying a sport or doing school work—or maybe even sitting at a desk/table trying to focus. It’s simply beyond the body’s ability to support the activity.

Reflexes

All of us are born with a set of automatic movements designed to allow us to initiate movements that begin our exploration of the world as well as the learning process. As we use those movements, we begin to realize that we can get something, and that promotes growth in the nervous system. From there we can move beyond the automatic movements to making choices.

Sometimes something gets in the way of those choices, and we can get stuck in a movement pattern that limits possibilities. Most humans are determined enough to get things done that they create work-arounds. But those are never as efficient as the natural pathways. They usually look like a lack of coordination or an odd way of doing things. Sometimes it’s poor posture, lack of attention, or behavior outbursts.

Whatever form it takes, there’s likely to be a certain amount of frustration that comes with it. It sure would be nice if it could be easier!

The reality of the situation is that development hasn’t kept up with age, so a person with these habits and patterns has an immature nervous system, no matter how many birthdays they have had. Scolding, encouraging, trying harder . . . none of that really works to build the needed skills. It just brings more frustration for everyone!

Reflex Integration

The fix in this situation is to go back and let the nervous system catch up. The job of reflexes is to teach. When we haven’t moved through a pattern, it means there is more to learn from that pattern.

Working on movements that confirm the reflexes are in place then allow a person to work beyond them is what reflex integration is all about. It’s a relatively simple process of rocking/calming/engaging the nervous system along with games that build coordination and timing. Along the way, though, a changing nervous system is going to have something to say. Sometimes that takes the form of mood/behavior changes, but it can also look like a need for more sleep or more food as the inside and outside of the body find new ways to come together and then reach out into the world in new ways.

It's not a fast process, but consistent work will make definite (and usually predictable) changes. The most reliable rule is to take a year to reflect the timeline of the first year of life. Sometimes it's not that long, but the body will put things together on its own terms. And rushing the process is what created the work-arounds in the first place. Changing habits takes time.

Reflexes resurfacing in adults

Most of us are stuck in some patterns on some level, but often it’s not noticeable because we become accustomed to our way of working in the world. Since we don’t know it could be easier, we are happy with what we can do.

Once in awhile, though, there’s an accident or fall, a surgery, a situation that produces a trauma response. We begin to notice that things just aren’t the same. Maybe hearing or vision doesn’t work the same. Maybe one side of the body doesn’t respond as fast. Maybe it’s balance that’s off just a bit. And it never seems to get better on its own.

This is a time to think back to the beginning—to development—and let the body re-coordinate from the inside out. It is possible to change the habits that slow you down!

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If you need more information, check this page. If you’re interested in how this can help you or your child, contact my by email or leave a message at 712-292-2882.