Reflex Reflections: Basic Information about Reflexes

Preface about Primitive Reflexes

Nature provides each person with a set of involuntary patterns that start before birth and aid development. The Infant Reflex Patterns are automatic motor responses to sensory triggers. Changes in the sensory environment activate an involuntary patterned motor response. These early motor responses start working in utero as the sensory-motor systems of the fetus develop.

As each motor response is activated and sustained, the Upper Brain learns to direct the muscles involved and takes over voluntary control of the muscles that are used in the infant reflex patterns. The Upper Brain takes over, inhibits, and integrates the infant reflexes. Most early infant reflexes are typically inhibited by six months of age. Integration comes with voluntary use of the reflex patterns. Inhibition and integration of primitive reflexes does not mean that the reflexes are gone; these patterns remain stored in the brainstem and midbrain, coming forward as needed to protect and restore development during trauma.

Reflex Reflections: Basic Information about Spinal Galant Reflex 3/3

In this entry, checks for persistent and hypoactive Spinal Galant Reflex will be discussed.

CHECKING SPINAL GALANT REFLEX

OBSERVATION

In hyperactive Spinal Galant Reflex, you may see the following

·       May not be able to sit still in a chair

·        May often appear antsy

·       May have tactile issues, such as being bothered by waistbands or food textures or may not like to touch paper or wool.

·       Enuresis (bed wetting) is also possible. Rapid onset of needing to urinate is common

·       Spinal and back issues such as scoliosis are possible. 

·       Shoulders and/or hips may be very sensitive and protected.

In Hypoactive Spinal Galant, you may see the following:

·       Inflexible trunk

·       May be hold pelvis heavily with less movement.

·       Bodily liquids and lymph may collect, especially at lower joints

CHECKS FOR SPINAL GALANT REFLEX

This reflex can be checked with person on the side, stomach, or hands and knees. Checking on each sides of the body appears to yield the most refined results. 

·       Client is on side with a pillow under head if necessary. 

·       With the thumb, index finger, or pen top, start at the side of the spine at the base of the neck.

·       Staying close to the spine and at a medium speed, draw the finger or pen top down the back to the base of the spine. This may be repeated on the side as well.

·       The check can be repeated 1 to 3 repetitions. It may lessen with consecutive checks in a short period of time. Also, a client may try to control the reaction by stiffening the back muscles.

Observation: 

·       Watch the hips and shoulders.

·       At 100% retention, a strong contraction will pull the shoulder and hip towards each other.

·       Lesser levels of retention will look like a twitch in the hip or perhaps the shoulder. 

Rarely, one side will be retained and the other not. This is usually because of persistent ATNR on one side.

A Story of Spinal Galant Reflex and Healing

Nan was a nervous young woman. She had severe scoliosis. She was very defensive and protective or herself. She wore a padded vest over a long jumper. 

I spent extra time talking about the nature of reflexes and how they are not conscious and that a person is not responsible for feelings that arise from sensory overload. I spent this time because this was a person unaware that much of her anxiety and tension was because of persistent primitive reflexes. She might have taken statements as a critique of her character instead of statements of physiological fact about her nervous system.

Her check was done on the hands and knees and was extremely high in persistence. The tactile experience of the check itself was overwhelming to her. I let her rest and drink some water before continuing.

In the end, after three sessions for tone patterning and other activities, her entire demeanor changed. She was calmer and much less defensive. She could wear clothing that was lighter and could expose more skin in hot weather. Best of all, the scoliosis she had suffered since a child had begun to reverse.

For more information about the Spinal Galant or other reflexes, contact Janet Oliver for an online mentoring session. These sessions can be lengths of 15 minutes up to 2 hours. Check at www.planforlearning.com for description, costs and contact information.