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Neurodevelopmental Movements—REQUIRED Not Optional, for normal development
Innatemovementsofwombandinfancy
¥ Developsensoryprocessing,brainmaturity
¥ Abilitytospeakandlearnwithease
¥ Haveuprightposture,strengthandstamina
¥ Developemotionalandcognitiveskills
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What are Neurodevelopmental Movements?
ThebrainRECOGNIZESandRESPONDStothesemovementsatanyage.
Neurodevelopmentalmovements:
• Areoftenrhythmic,originateinthebrainstem
• Shouldbedormantafterthetoddlerage,butoftenarenot
• Getre-activatedwithtrauma
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Teaching Neurodevelopmental Movements
NeurodevelopmentalMovementInstructor¥ OTs,PTs,VisionandSpeechTherapists
¥ ParentsandEducators
¥ Painspecialists,Traumaspecialists
¥ MentalHealthcounselors
¥ Learningspecialists
¥ Healthcareprofessionals
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3 Main Categories of Neurodevelopmental Movement
Developmental“Milestone”Movements
InnateRhythmicMovements
InnateInfantReflexes
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Eight month old twins rocking in sync! LucindaRuh.PublishedonFeb5,2013onYouTube.
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Sensory-Motor Input Required for Normal Brain Development
ThisisWHYHumanBeginsComewithInnateMovement
NeuropsycholRev(2010)20:327–348
DOI10.1007/s11065-010-9148-4
REVIEW
TheBasicsofBrainDevelopmentJoanStiles&TerryL.Jernigan
Received:7August2010/Accepted:11October2010/Publishedonline:3November2010
©TheAuthor(s)2010.
ThisarticleispublishedwithopenaccessatSpringerlink.com
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¥ Thefirst2yearsoflifearecrucialforformationofnervenets
¥ Thisprocessdoesnothappenbyitself
¥ Thebrainneedsstimulationfromthesensesforbranchingoffandmyelinationtooccur.
¥ Thestimulationthebrainreceivesinthefirstyearoflifeisfundamental.
The Infant’s Brain is Undeveloped
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Human Skills Depend on the Neurodevelopmental Movement Foundation
Speech, Social-Emotional skills
Balance, Coordination, Strength, Stamina
Calm and Stillness
Focus, Attention, Learning
Sensory Processing
Muscle Tone, Upright Posture
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Infant Movements Associated with Language Development
J.ChildLang.37(2010),229–261.fCambridgeUniversityPress2010doi:10.1017/S0305000909990432Developinglanguageinadevelopingbody:therelationshipbetweenmotordevelopmentandlanguagedevelopment*JANAM.IVERSONUniversityofPittsburgh
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Bethany ProgresswithSensory,SpeechandLearning
ThisisBethanybitingintoanapple.
¥ Beforedoingthe(innaterhythmicandreflexintegration)movementsfromtheBrainandSensoryFoundationscourseitwas"nearimpossible”togetBethanytobiteintosomethingwithoutfirstcuttingitintosmallpieces.
¥ Shewasalsoreluctanttowearclothingandmostlynon-verbal.
¥ Bethanyisnoweatingwell,wearingclothesandherspeechisimprovingdaily.
¥ HerMomsays,"I’mamazed.Themovementshaveclickedandweareseeinggoodresultsthatremainovertime.”
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¥ Hindranceofdevelopmentinthewomb,atbirth,ininfancy,toddlerhood,childhood
¥ Or,illness,injury,trauma,exhaustion,atanyage
Sensory Processing Issues Asignofbrain,bodyandsensory-motorimmaturity
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Which toddlers
have brain and sensory maturity established? Photos from Kathleen Porter, author of Healthy Posture for Babies and Children
https://naturaltothecore.wordpress.com
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What does the future hold for these two babies?
Compromised Baby Healthy Baby PhotofromKathleenPorter,authorofHealthyPostureforBabiesandChildren.naturaltothecore.wordpress.com
*Flanagan,J.E.,Landa,R.,Bhat,A.,&Bauman,M.(2012).Headlagininfantsatriskforautism:Apreliminarystudy.AmericanJournalofOccupationalTherapy,66(5),577-585.DOI:10.5014/ajot.2012.004192
“Headlagwassignificantlyassociatedwithautismspectrumdisorderat36[months]”*
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Primitive Reflexes Definition and Lifecycle
¥ Innate,automaticmovementpatterninresponsetoaspecificstimulus
¥ Reflexeshelpwithsurvival,protection,sensoryintegration,braingrowth&development
¥ Primitiveinfantreflexesaredesignedto§ Emerge§ Repeatuntilintegrated(jobsarecomplete)§ Becomedormant—inhibitedbyhigherbraincenters
• Dormantmeans:nolongertriggeredbytheinitialstimulus
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Importance of Innate Rhythmic Movements and Reflex Integration—Jobs
BALANCE and POSTURE Abilitytobeupright,freeoftension.
BRAIN and NERVES Reflexesdevelopthebrainandnervenetworksto“linkup”thebrainstemandcerebellumwithmid-brainandneocortex.
SENSES ReflexesprovidestimulationnecessaryfordevelopmentofTactile,Vestibular,Proprioceptive,VisualandAuditoryProcessing
LEARNING SKILLS Reflexesdevelopthefoundationforlearningskills.
MOVEMENT and MOTIVATION Developvolitionalmovementwithcoordination.Relatestomotivation&movingforwardtoattaingoals.
EMOTIONAL and SOCIAL SKILLS Learningtomanagetheemotions,controlimpulsesandgetalongwithothers
MUSCLE TONE MuscleStrength,Stamina
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¥ Sensory,learning,social-emotional,andspeechchallenges
¥ Keepsthe“survivalbrain”(brainstem)active—childismorelikelytohaveimpulsecontrolissuesandemotionalreactivityissues.
¥ Nervoussystemisimmatureandina‘raw’,vulnerablestate
¥ “FightorFlight”responseistriggeredoften,canleadtochronicstress,healthchallenges
Challenges associated with disrupted
neurodevelopmental movements ¥ SensoryProcessingDisorders
¥ Bodypartsdonotmoveindependently—brainstem“static”
¥ Muscleachesandtension,fatigue—toomuchefforttomove,dotasks—hinderslearning.
¥ Lackofsolidneuro-sensory-motor-vestibularfoundation—preventsbrain,bodyandsensorysystemsfrommaturingproperly
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Retained reflexes associated with ADHD and learning challenges
¥ Un-integratedreflexesgohand-in-handwithsensory-motor,learning,mental-health,andbehaviorchallenges—“PrimitiveReflexesandAttention-Deficit/HyperactivityDisorder:DevelopmentalOriginsofClassroomDysfunction”InternationalJournalofSpecialEducation:19(1),23–37,-2004.MyraTaylor,StephenHoughtonandElaineChapman
¥ “BoysdiagnosedwithAD/HDhadsignificantlyhigherlevelsofreflexretentionthannon-diagnosedboys.ResultsalsoindicatedbothdirectandindirectrelationshipsbetweenretentionoftheMoro,ATNR,STNRandTLRreflexeswithAD/HDsymptomatologyandmathematicsachievement.”
¥ Effectsofreplicatingprimary-reflexmovementsonspecificreadingdifficultiesinchildren.Lancet:355,537–41,2000.
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Retained reflexes associated with ASD, ADHD, and mental health challenges
¥ “RetainedPrimitiveReflexesinADHDandASDamongChildreninanInpatientPsychiatricSetting”
¥ ResearchbyDr.KhielaHolmes,PhD,PamelaHandloser,OTR/LandDianeHanley,OTR/LUniversityofArkansasforMedicalScience,PsychiatricResearchInstitute,LittleRock,AR,June2016.
¥ “90.3%ofthesamplehadatleastoneretainedreflexpresent”
¥ Primitive(developmental)reflexesanddiffusecerebraldysfunctioninschizophreniaandbipolaraffectivedisorder:overrepresentationinpatientswithtardivedyskinesia.
¥ Youssef,H.A;Waddington,J.L.,BiologicalPsychiatry,23,791-6.1988
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Case Study: Finn AmazingTurnaroundin9months,TerranDaily,OT
Withinaboutamonth,Finnwasabletotoleratethebuzzcutteronhisentirehead,buthewasstillafraidofthevacuumcleaner.Momcontinuedwithrhythmicmovementoverthesummer,andwerecentlyaddedintegrationofthefearparalysisandMororeflexes.Nowlook—Finnistheonevacuuming!
Finnwascompletelydependentindressing.Nowhecandresshimself,apartfromsomeclosures.
Whenwestarted,Finnwasunabletoisolatefingermovementsandheldhispencilinadaggergrasp.Nowhecantoucheachfingertiptohisthumb,andheholdshispencilinagoodtripodgrasp.
InJanuary,hecouldsitincircletimeabout30secondsbeforehebeganthrowingthingsandcrawlingovertheotherchildren.Hecannowusuallyparticipatemeaningfullyingroupactivitiesfor30-40minutes,takingturns,followinginstructionsandrespectingotherchildren’sspace.
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¥ HardyMWandLaGasseAB(2013)Rhythm,movement,andautism:usingrhythmicrehabilitationresearchasamodelforautism.Front.Integr.Neurosci.7:19.doi:10.3389/fnint.2013.00019
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¥ MotorDeficitsinChildrenwithAutismSpectrumDisorder:Across-syndromestudy
¥ MartinMcPhillips,JenniferFinlay,SusanneBejerot,MaryHanley
¥ AutismRes.2014Dec;7(6):664-76.doi:10.1002/aur.1408.Epub2014Sep24.
Research: Motor Deficits in ASD linked to Specific-Language and Social Impairment
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¥ “Therapeuticinterventionsideallyshouldbuildoncoreprinciplesofneurodevelopment.”
¥ ElizabethTorresandCarolineWhyatt,Editors
¥ CRCPress,October2017,Series,FrontiersinNeuroscience
Autism: the Movement-Sensing Perspective
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Neurodevelopmental Movement Calms, Organizes & Matures, Brain and Sensory Systems
Before and After—student of Nina Gallwey Siskiyou School, Ashland Oregon
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Neurodevelopmental Movement Calms, Organizes & Matures, Brain and Sensory Systems
Before and After—student of Nina Gallwey Siskiyou School, Ashland Oregon
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Neurodevelopmental Movement Calms, Organizes & Matures, Brain and Sensory Systems
BeforeandAfter—fromKyle,5yearsold.Submittedbyhismother,aphysicaltherapist
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Help for Behavior Issues OTisamazedatchangesin6weeks
Ihadoneofmypatientsbegindoingtherhythmicmovements[fromtheOnlineBrainandSensoryFoundationscourse]6weeksago.Thischildis8yearsoldandattendsaspecialschoolforemotionallyandbehaviorallychallengedchildrenthatcan'tattendregularpubliceducation.Whenhegetsfrustratedatschool,ittypicallyresultsinamajormeltdownwithhitting,throwingdesksandchairs,andyelling.Hehashad4-5adultsholdinghimdownonthefloorattimes.ThisboyhasnothadhardlyanybehaviororemotionaloutburstslikeIdescribedsincehehasstarteddoingtherhythmicmovementsathomeoratschool.Hehasalreadymadegreatgainswithbalance,coordination,sensoryprocessing,impulsecontrol,andfrustrationtoleranceandithasonlybeen6weeks.Amazing!!
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Help for ADD, Bedwetting, Reading & Writing
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Help for Learning Boyin5thGradefinallygetsfoundationsforreading
OurfamilyhasspentcountlesshoursanddollarstryingtohelpJackwithhisreading,butnothingmadeanoticeabledifference.Iamreallyamazedathowwellthesemovements(fromtheBrainandSensoryFoundationscourse]arehelpingmysonJackwithreading.
Hetoldmelastnightthatthemovementshavehelpedhimmorewithhisreadingthanalloftheactualreadingworkwehavedoneathomesincefirstgrade.
ItoldhimthatIprayedtoGodthatIwouldfindsomewaytohelphimandhourslaterIlistenedtoyourinterviewandIknewthatGodwasdirectingme.”
Jennifer,Jack’smom
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Help for Sleep and Anxiety Boy,age6
"I have been doing the rhythmic movements with my son everyday since taking your course. He now falls asleep easier and
sleeps deeper. His anxieties have hugely diminished. For many months he could not
be alone in the bathroom. Last week he stayed in the tub alone for more than 5 minutes happily singing to himself and
playing. I couldn't believe it! It has only been a week since we began these movements."
N Brady, Mom
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CaseStudyContinuedSheriSeagle,OTR/L
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Improve Balance, Relieve Anxiety
¥ Dr.OritBartatTelAvivUniversity¥ After12-weeksofsensory-motorinterventionthechildreninDr.Bart’s
studyimprovedtheirbalanceskills.
¥ Thetherapyreducedthechildren’sanxietytonormallevelsandtheirself-esteemalsoincreased.
¥ NauertPhD,R.(2015).ImproveBalance,RelieveChildhoodAnxiety.PsychCentral.RetrievedonApril26,2016,fromhttp://psychcentral.com/news/2009/01/24/improve-balance-relieve-childhood-anxiety/3692.html
¥ Bart,Orit;YairBar-Haim;EinatWeizman;MoranLevin;AviSadeh;MattiMintz—“Balancetreatmentamelioratesanxietyandincreasesself-esteeminchildrenwithco-morbidanxietyandbalancedisorder,ResearchinDevelopmentalDisabilities,30,486–495,2009.
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Moro Reflex Another Hidden Key to Sensory Challenges
§ Startlereflex,brainstem§ BeginsinUtero§ Continuesafterbirth§ AlertsCaregiver§ Arousessurvivalmechanisms§ FightorFlightresponse§ Increasesadrenaline,cortisol§ Shouldbeintegratedby4mo.Isreactivatedwithtrauma,illness,injury
§ Lackofintegration=manychallengesinfunctioning
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Moro reflex in a baby
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Video Credit
MoviesdrawnfromtheNeurologicExamandPediNeurologicExamwebsitesareusedbypermissionofPaulD.Larsen,M.D.,UniversityofNebraskaMedicalCenterandSuzanneS.Stensaas,Ph.D.,UniversityofUtahSchoolofMedicine.AdditionalmaterialsforNeurologicExamaredrawnfromresourcesprovidedbyAlejandroStern,SternFoundation,BuenosAires,Argentina;KathleenDigre,M.D.,UniversityofUtah;andDanielJacobson,M.D.,MarshfieldClinic,Wisconsin.Subsequentre-useofanymaterialsoutsideofthisprogram,presentation,orwebsiterequirespermissionfromtheoriginalproducers.
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§ Sensoryprocessingchallenges§ Poorfocus§ Poorimpulsecontrol§ Learningchallenges§ Sleepchallenges§ Speechchallenges§ Inabilitytobestill§ Anxiety/Depression§ Emotional-Socialchallenges§ Lackofcorestrength/weakmuscles
A retained Moro reflex may result in:
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¥ ExperiencingSafety:Firststepinhealingsensoryprocessingchallenges
¥ InnateRhythmicMovementsKey—calmingandmaturing
¥ Reflexintegrationiskey
Turning off “Fight, Flight and Freeze”
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¥ Boy—7yearsold,withTrisomy21(DownSyndrome),photoanddescriptionfromhismother.(SomeEnglishiscorrected.Englishissecondlanguage)
Help for Anxiety and Phobias
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Help for Sleep Issues Girl,8yearsoldwithPANDAS
ThefirsttimeIstartedworkingwithmydaughter,Ididrhythmicmovements.Itwasamazing.Shesleptthroughthatfirstnightwithoutwakingup.Aftermonths,maybeevenayear,ofnotsleepingwellandnotsleepingthroughthenight,shewasabletogetherfirstnightofsolidsleep.S.M.,Mom
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Help for Speech Jacob,age6
After4monthsofrhythmicmovementandreflexintegration,Jacob,age6,whowasnon-verbalwithonlymoaningvocalizations,begansayingclearly:“MayIpleasegotothebathroom.”
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Neurodevelopmental Movement BDNF=BrainDerivedNeurotropicFactor
Movement Builds the Brain Neurodevelopmental Movements
DIRECT and QUICK access to the Brain and CNS
Decrease Stress
Increase Learning
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Why do Neurodevelopmental Movements work?
¥ Thesearethesamemovementsthatdevelopthebrainandsensorysystemsofallhumansinthefirstplace.
¥ Thebrainrecognizesandrespondstotheseinnatemovements.
¥ Doingneurodevelopmentalmovement‘reboots’anddevelopsthebrainandsensorysystematANYage.
¥ Neuro-movementdiminishestheFightorFlightresponse
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NeurodevelopmentalMovementsworkatANYage,frombabytoelder.Toolsforlife-longhealthandwellness
Functional challenges often have foundational roots!
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Learn more:
Brain and Sensory Foundations Online Training
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