Disclaimer: These exercises are general advice only and are not specific to you or your child. They are intended for educational purposes only and it's highly recommended you seek assistance from your local health practitioner for assessment, diagnosis and management.
ATNR - Bigger Kids
Asymmetric Tonic Neck Reflex
Retained Primitive Reflex Integration
Home Exercises
Join Chiropractor Karli Plowright of Nomad Chiropractic in Mosman, NSW as she takes you through some options for home exercises that may help you/you child to integrate the retained primitive reflex; which could significantly improve the related symptoms or signs.
THE STEPS:
1) LIZARD
- Lie face down on the floor/bed etc.
Position 1) try and do this in a slow and controlled pattern so the arm/leg are coordinated movements together.
- Turn head to the left
- Bend left arm and knee so they’re out to the side at 90 degree angles
+ Straighten the right arm out to the right side (at the same time)
- Hold for 5 seconds
- Return to central/neutral position (slow/controlled/coordinated movement).
Position 2) try and do this in a slow and controlled pattern so the arm/leg are coordinated movements together.
- Turn head to the right
- Bend right arm and knee so they’re out to the side at 90 degree angles
+ Straighten the left arm out to the right side (at the same time)
- Hold for 5 seconds
REPEAT!
NOTE: this pattern is meant to be smooth, tracing the floor (Karli mucks it up and has a giggle!)
2) MARCHING on the SPOT
- Put both arms out infront of you
- March on the spot with knees coming up to 90 degrees; and
- Turn head to the right (hold 20 sec)
- Look straight ahead (20sec)
- Turn head to the left (hold 20 sec)
+ REPEAT!
- Note if arms start to drift/drop + correct the placement of them.
3) EYE/THUMB TRACKING
Standing:
- Have child hold their thumb at eye level about 20cm from their face
- Keep their head still
- Slowly move their own arm/thumb to the left and have eyes follow the thumb (keep head still)
- Return to centre
- Repeat x10
- Slowly move arm/thumb to the right and have the eyes follow the thumb (keep head still)
- Return to centre
- Repeat x10
AND REPEAT!
Need some help?
Contact your local Chiropractor, Osteopath, Physio, OT, GP who has training in retained primitive reflexes. They can help by assessment of their active reflexes; and a combination of physical therapy and better advice or demonstration of these exercises might help you and your child to integrate these reflexes.
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Please note:
- Karli is perfectly imperfect in her demonstration of these.
- These exercises are intended as general advice; they are not specific to your individual needs. If you're experiencing any discomfort or pain please seek professional help.
NOMAD CHIROPRACTIC IN MOSMAN HAS A PREGNANCY AND PAEDIATRIC FOCUS.
BOOK IN ONLINE WITH YOUR MOSMAN CHIROPRACTORS LUCY BARTLETT, KARLI PLOWRIGHT AND SANDY GHOBRIAL AT WWW.NOMADCHIROPRACTIC.COM.AU
Located at: Suite 1, 563 Military Road Mosman NSW 2088 Rear entry - find the cacti and you'll see our door!
Ph 02 9969 7503
www.nomadchiropractic.com.au
For More Retained Primitive Reflex home exercises head to: www.nomadchiropractic.com.au/retained-primitive-reflex-exercises