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.
·
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.
