Why Is The Primitive Reflex Course One of Our Most Popular Courses Around the World? & Clinical Uses Summary

The beginnings of the Primitive Reflex course started in 2002 when I noticed that an asymmetry in abdominal hollowing (either dominance of internal oblique or inefficiency of transversus abdominus) occurred in some people when they did abdominal hollowing with cervical rotation.

In other people who had a natural asymmetry, doing cervical rotation seemed to create symmetry.  I wrote a theory based article on this for the Orthopedic Division Review in 2007 and then in 2008 we did a laboratory study using superficial EMG to support the clinical observation (this is one example of many as to how we bring clinical findings to the lab and then back to the clinic - all to make the rehab process better). Similar asymmetry was noticed in lumbar multifidus.

A few key findings facilitated significant progression in 2003 and 2004:

I treated someone who I worked out their symptoms came completely from ocular movements

I then searched the literature on dyslexia and other learning difficulties and saw that the rehab world of pain had missed something very big.

Some questions beg answers

What is tone composed of within the central and peripheral nervous systems and why do some people never get their range of motion back even with stretching, mobilization (joint, neural, soft tissue), trigger point release,  - even with proper muscle imbalance rehab and motor control?

Why does the central nervous system make the spine move more into flexion when you have flexion related symptoms?

Why can't some people learn specific motor control exercises?

Neurocognitive problems (from long standing learning difficulties, concussions, other medical co-morbidities etc), primitive reflexes, poor sensory motor function are all inter-related. The neurodevelopmental process never occurred or something changed to alter higher center function and allow reflexes to re-emerge.

Two main uses for primitive reflexes in the clinic:

1.      You can use primitive reflexes to help general coordination and learning (a clinical priority for people who can't learn to cognitive alter their motor control efficiently)

2.      You can use primitive reflexes to help improve movement, motor control, reduce tone on every day people the same way you would use a muscle energy technique or

For those people who can learn but you want to help motor control (examples)

Hamstrings

If you have tight hamstrings and poor recruitment of gluteus maximus you will have a positive Landau relfex

Poor Deep Neck Flexors

Several primitive reflexes have extensor responses (e.g. Moro, Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex - extension phases). Treating these will reduce extensor tone to allow more efficient upper cervical flexion

Glen-humeral Rhythm & Glenohumeral Medial Rotation (Kinetic Medial Rotation test)

The Grasp Reflex immediately changes upper limb function

Short Calf

Foot Tendon Guard reflex (evil twin of Babinski!) and the other plantar flexion reflexes quickly change this

For those people who cannot learn or with extreme difficulty

This is really individual and needs to consider if they have been like this all their life (we teach you how to find out in the history).

You can rehab a battery of reflexes based upon the normal neurodevelopmental process or you can focus on where the symptoms are and on the movement patterns that provoke them and direct your treatment towards that region using the reflexes that affect there. Concurrently there is often a need or benefit to doing specific sensory motor training (e.g. two point idscrimination, proprioception, oculomotor training).

So why is the Primitive Reflex course one of our most popular courses?  

1.      It appeals to neurophysiotherapists, pediatric physiotherapists and orthopedic physiotherapists.

2.      It effectively addresses the central nervous system's contribution to tone as opposed to using normal movement to indirectly reduce the reflex presence.

3.      It works really well on those who have reflexes, with mechanical pain.

Primitive reflex inhibition is the most natural way to alter movement patterns, change tone and facilitate the sensory motor system. After all, it is what occurs in nature. 

Sean GT Gibbons BSc (Hons) PT, MSc Ergonomics, PhD (c), MCPA