Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex

TONIC LABYRINTHINE REFLEX

STIMULATION Recipient stands with feet together. INTEGRATION Isometric Activities 1. Bend head forward and 1. TLR Forward (Flexion) 2. TLR Backward (Extension) look at feet, Position—In turtle position: Position—Lie on back, arms close eyes. at sides and knees slightly a. Flex head forward then curl fexed: chin toward chest and press chin against facilitator’s hand. a. Tilt chin up and press head lightly into foor. 2. Bend head b. Extend head into hand of backward and facilitator. look at ceiling, close eyes.

b. Flex head of foor and tilt chin toward chest. INTEGRATION c. Chin fexed toward chest, c. Slight lateral fexion, press head curled, laterally fex head head gently into facilitator’s Developmental Movements and Games slightly to side. Do both sides. hand. Do both sides. Playful Developmental Movement: Roll, rock and spin—with eyes closed and with eyes open Games: On the belly, roll balls to each other; “fy” on belly with legs up and arms out (Bird or Eagle in “Zoo” Exercises); crawl with a soft ball or toy tucked under chin Rhythmic Movement #1: Passive Rhythmic Stimulation from the Knees in Supine Position

Invite recipient to: 1. Hold arms straight INTEGRATION out at the shoulder Isometric Activities level, wrists relaxed. Slowly turn head 1. ATNR Back Position 2. ATNR Belly to one side and Position hold, then to the other side and hold. Repeat 2 more times. 2. Track an object back and forth in front of the eyes at a comfortable distance, about 10 or 15 times (less if obvious difculty).

INTEGRATION Developmental Movements and Games Playful Developmental Movements: Crawl on belly; crawl on hands and knees while turning head side to side Games: Toss beanbag in rainbow arc, following with head; crawl while turning head side to side; crawl while passing balloon from side to side Rhythmic Movement #1: Passive Rhythmic Stimulation from the Knees in Supine Position, rotating head side to side instead of up and down Rhythmic Movement #3: Passive Rolling of the Bottom in Prone Position

© 2007–12 Sonia Story and Steven Kane, OTR/L | www.moveplaythrive.com SYMMETRICAL TONIC NECK REFLEX STIMULATION Invite recipient to: 1. Be on hands and knees. INTEGRATION 2. Be on hands and knees, with slightly bent elbows. Ask recipient to slowly bend Isometric Activities head forward and look down at knees. 3. Be on hands and knees, with slightly bent elbows. Ask recipient to slowly bend head backward and look up. In all positions, notice placement of hands, arms and trunk.

INTEGRATION 1. Invite recipient into “cat sit” position, bottom resting on legs and ankles, Developmental Movements and Games elbows slightly fexed, head facing forward. Press gently on the back of the head, forehead and each temple while recipient meets your gentle Playful Developmental Movements: Crawl pressure. while moving head up and down; rock on hands and knees Puppy Stretches

Games: Toss beanbag up and down, following 2. Invite recipient onto hands and knees, arms slightly fexed but elbows with head; “Keep the balloons up” unlocked, head facing forward. Press gently on the backof the head, forehead and each temple while recipient meets your gentle pressure. Rhythmic Movement #1: Passive Rhythmic Stimulation from the Knees in Supine Position, while nodding head up and down

STIMULATION 1. Press one fnger on top of palm, INTEGRATION just under the fngers. Isometric Activities 2. Press thumb into middle of palm. 3. Hold a pen or pencil, begin to 1. Grasp Refex—Press one fnger at the top of the palm, just under the write a little. fngers, and squeeze around it, then slowly open while extending fngers. Repeat 3 to 5 times, each hand separately then both together. Facilitator can also play “pencil sharpener” using the fnger as the “pencil” INTEGRATION and twisting in the palm of the recipient 1. Make sucking movements while while the recipient kneading hands squeezes to “sharpen” the pencil. 2. Model with beeswax 2. Palmar/Babkin Refex 3. Make paper snowballs Flex and extend the whole hand: Press thumb into middle of palm, clasp 4. Sequence of grasp hand positions— hand around thumb and squeeze, then slowly open while extending fngers Do each position 3 times, with a squeeze: as much as possible. Repeat 3 to 5 times, — Thumb tucked inside fst each hand separately — Thumb out in front of fngers then facilitator does — Thumb positioned atop index fnger; both of recipient’s wiggle (This is the frst experience of hands together. the opposable thumb!) — Thumb and index fnger make a pincer grip: fat fngers, open and Thumb and little fnger close, back and forth isometric: Push thumb and little fnger against — Thumb and frst two fngers press pressure of your own or a open and closed, back and forth partner’s fngers. Then do — Press each fnger in turn against the the same in the opposite thumb direction.

STIMULATION Plantar Refex INTEGRATION Press on the ball of the foot just under the toes. Isometric??? Activities Babinski Refex 1. Plantar Refex—Press near the top of the ball of the foot. Curl With frm pressure, stroke along the toes around fnger and squeeze bottom edge of the foot from heel to for seven seconds, then fan the little toe. toes outward. Repeat 3–6 times. Do each foot separately, then both together. Relax completely between repetitions.

2. Babinski Refex a. Stimulate the Babinski Refex, then push big toe toward head while slightly rotating foot toward eversion. Hold for seven seconds. Repeat 3–6 times. INTEGRATION Developmental Movements and Games b. Push big toe toward head while slightly rotating foot toward Playful Developmental Movement: Crawl on inversion. Hold for seven belly with toes pushing into foor seconds. Repeat 3–6 times. Games: Pick up toys or socks with the toes and use toes and feet to throw them at a target; The Walking Song by Brendan O’Hara Rhythmic Movement #4: Windscreen Wipers

Invite recipient to: 1. Lay down on side in fetal position with eyes closed. Imagine being INTEGRATION poked (or with permission facilitator touches) and withdraw the whole 1. Fear Release Tapping Points (use a rhythm that your partner prefers, for body away from the touch. Do this 3 example a 1-2-3 waltz rhythm): Tap at 4 or more of the following, or do the to 5 times in diferent places. whole sequence. — Feet on the soles — Hips (from the sides) — Backs of hands (between fourth and ffth metacarpals) — Arms (distal attachment of triceps) — Arms (deltoid, lateral aspect of shoulders) — K27 points (“Brain Buttons”) — Chest (one hand taps on sternum while other hand’s fngertips lightly touch the xiphoid process at the base of the sternum) 2. Rhythmic Movements: All Passive Rhythmic Movements 2. Fling out arms, gasp, hold breath and curl into standing fetal position, then 3. Wrap fngers of one hand around the index fnger of the other hand; hold exhale. for one to two minutes. 3. Imagine a loud sound (or with 4. Place hands on the back, over the kidneys and adrenals (just below ribs); hold for one to two minutes. permission facilitator makes loud sound). 5. Hook-Ups and Positive Points from Brain Gym® 4. Exchange light pushes from front, 6. Repatterning from Brain Gym® back and sides. 7. Integrate Moro Refex and Tonic Labyrinthine Refex. 5. Tell stories, fairy tales with abandonment/fear themes. Brain Gym® is a registered trademark of Brain Gym® International, www.braingym.org 6. Games: Hide and Seek, chase, etc.

© 2007–12 Sonia Story and Steven Kane, OTR/L | www.moveplaythrive.com STIMULATION MORO REFLEX Invite recipient to: 4. Imagine a bad odor, or being too 1. Shake hands. hot or too cold. INTEGRATION 2. Tip head back, look up at ceiling 5. With permission, facilitator makes Isometric Activity and fall backwards, catching a loud sound. yourself before falling. 6. Games: Partner spinning, 1. Lie in supine position with knees fexed and arms crossed, place hands 3. Look at a light source for a few astronaut, blanket roll with spinning unwind, Merry Go Round on medial aspect of knees and lift feet. seconds. Then press lightly toward abduction on the kinees with your hands while fexing the head and curling inward. Alternate with next position and INTEGRATION repeat 3–6 times. 1. “Monkey Hugs” with all four limbs 2. The Three Thumps: Tap briskly to stimulate immune and nervous systems: —K27 points (kidney) —Thymus Tapping over center of breastbone —Spleen Points

3. Place hands on Passive Integration the back, over the kidneys and Alternate positions and repeat 3–6 times: adrenals (just below ribs) and hold for 2. Lie in the same supine position Roly Poly: Facilitator one to two minutes. with crossed arms and hands on may help recipient 4. Hook-Ups and the lateral aspects of fexed knees. curl up tightly. Positive Points from Adduct knees lightly with your hands Brain Gym® while knees move toward abduction. 5. Repatterning from Brain Gym® 6. Integrate Fear Big Star: Stretch out Paralysis Refex and and tip head back Tonic Labyrinthine (chin up slightly Refex. toward ceiling).

Brain Gym® is a registered trademark of Brain Gym® International, www.braingym.org

© 2007–12 Sonia Story and Steven Kane, OTR/L | www.moveplaythrive.com SPINAL GALANT REFLEX STIMULATION Invite recipient to INTEGRATION be in quadruped INTEGRATION or to lie on back, Developmental Movements belly or side. Then Isometric Activity with permission Playful Developmental gently but frmly Movements: Roll, crawl on the Recipient is press fnger down belly, slide on the back, crawl like supine, prone, the back an inch a caterpillar or inchworm standing, or two to the side on side or in Rhythmic Movements #2??? and quadruped. of the spine. Do #3: Passive Rhythmic Stimulation each side. Also Facilitator from the Knees in Supine Position stimulates can be done and Passive Rolling of the Bottom standing. refex on one in Prone Position side then Core activation recipient curves head, Back-to-back play after activating shoulder and refex on both sides hip into slight “C” curve. Repeat 3–6 times then do the other side.

Passive Integration

For young children and those who are not able to participate in the Isometric Activity, use Passive Integration: First give Spinal Galant stimulation, then gently squeeze the shoulder and hip together on the same side for seven seconds. Repeat 3–6 times and do other side.

STIMULATION 1. Invite recipient to sit and focus eyes INTEGRATION on a point in the distance. Facilitator Isometric Activity tips recipient 30 to 45 degrees to each side, front and back. Facilitator tilts the recipient to either the side, front or back. Facilitator 2. Invite recipient to site and focus securely holds the weight of recipient during the tilt. Facilitator holds hand eyes on a point in the distance, but near the recipient’s head and recipient tilts head into the facilitator’s hand close eyes as if looking at the point. using very light pressure (no more than one pound). There should be no Facilitator tips recipient 30 to 45 straining in the neck with these activities. degrees to each side, front and back. 3. Do #1 and #2 without eye Hold each position for seven seconds and repeat 3 to 6 times. Do this for all instructions. positions as needed.

Repeat with eyes closed.

Note: It is not necessary to do the integration for each position in equal amounts. If the Headrighting Refexes are established in the front and INTEGRATION back but not on the sides, you can do the integration just where is it needed on the sides. 1. Games: Games on the belly, lifting head and chest 2. Vestibular training — Slow rotation, rolling, and tilting with eyes closed and eyes open — Scooter boards, wobble boards, bosu, trampoline — Balance on one foot, then close eyes; increase the amount of time with eyes TO THE SIDE TO THE BACK TO THE FRONT closed as skill develops (OTHER SIDE NOT SHOWN) 3. Integrate Moro Refex and Tonic Labyrinthine Refex.

NOTE: YOU CAN BALANCE FOR MORE THAN ONE GOAL AT A TIME AND MORE THAN ONE REFLEX AT A TIME.

Choose a personal goal that you feel refexes may be involved with. (For example, some people experience that FPR is related to their response about a job interview or public speaking, etc.) Or you may choose any goal, whether or not you think it relates to a refex. You may also balance for more than one refex at a time by activating those refexes in Step 2.

1. Goal or Intention 4. Repatterning (standing or lying down) — Integrate refex(es) — Puppet Crawl, eyes looking down, with pause and — Other goal (choose a goal that is meaningful to you) deep breath in between Note: Older children and adults can write and speak goal to reinforce — Cross crawl, eyes looking up, and making “ah” sound the learning. With younger children, I often skip this step to maintain — Integration—arms outstretched, slowly bring hands the fow and play in the balance. together, lace fngers 2. Act Out Goal and Activate Refexes — Hook-Ups (okay to end Repatterning here) — Act out goal/role-play (ten seconds) — Cross crawl with eyes looking all around, or spinning — Choose one or more Refex Stimulation activities cross crawl, counter-clockwise then clockwise 3. Movement and Play — Water if desired Choose any combination of the following: 5. Act Out Goal (post-activity) — Refex Integration Activities — Act out goal/role-play — Play — Refex stimulation activities (optional, not necessary) — Rhythmic and Developmental Movements — If you wrote/spoke your goal in Step 1, it is important to rewrite the goal and speak it again — Other movements, dance, etc. from the balanced state. — Acknowledge and celebrate

Brain Gym® is a registered trademark of Brain Gym® International, www.braingym.org