Primitive Reflexes Flashcards
Definition: an automatic movement pattern that occurs in response to a specific touch or position stimuli
primitive reflexes
_____ support the birthing process: Infants depend on this for survival and early learning.
primitive reflexes
Reflexes support development in (4):
- integrative
- attention
- learning
- sensory
Stimulus/response S: rapid neck extention R: 1. arms abduct and extend 2. followed by arms flexing 3. crying
Duration: 28 weeks - 4 or 6 months
Concerns: sitting balance, protective reactions in sitting; eye-hand coord; visual tracking
Moro
symptoms of retained _____:
- car sickness or poor balance and coordination
- poor stamina
- doesn’t maintain eye contact
- sensitive to light
- sensitive to sound
- allergies
- adverse reaction to drugs
- dislike of change
- anxiety or nervousness
- mood swings
- poor math sense
Moro
Stimulus/response
S: stroke along the sides of the spine
R: lateral flexion of trunk toward the side being stroked
Duration: In utero - 3 or 6 months
Concerns: development of sitting balance; weight shifts can lead to scoliosis
Galant
Symptoms of retained ______:
- bedwetting
- poor endurance
- attention difficulties
- hip rotation to one side/scoliosis
- poor concentration
- poor gross motor coordination
- poor posture
- poor short-term memory
- fidgeting/hyperactivity
Galant
Stimulus/response
S: noxious stimuli to sole of foot or palm of hand
R: flexion of knee or elbow to withdrawal from stimulus/with flexion and then extension of contralateral let
Duration: 28 weeks - 1 to 2 months
Concerns: standing and walking; upper extremity functional activities
flexor withdrawal/crossed extension
Symptoms of retained _____:
- UE and LE coordination deficits
- toe walkers
- standing and walking
flexor withdrawal/cross extension
Stimulus/response
S: traction on the upper extremities
R: flexion of the upper extremities with the appearance of helping into a sitting position
Duration: 28 weeks - 4 to 5 months
Concerns: grading of upper extremity responses to movement
Also called pull to sit
traction response
Stimulus/response
S: Pressure on the ball of the foot or toes
R: foot will dorsiflex, and toes will curl
Duration: 28 weeks - 9 months
Concerns: Standing with feet flat on ground; balance reactions and weight shifts in standing
plantar grasp
Stimulus/response
S: support under the arms while feet are bounced/touch a flat surface
R: bears weight on legs for 20-30 seconds followed by the legs collapsing/sitting
Duration: 35 weeks - 1 to 2 months
Concerns: standing, walking, balance reactions, weight shifts
At risk for plantar contractures
positive support
Stimulus/response
S: held upright with a slight forward tilt
R: reciprocal stepping motion of the legs
Duration: birth - 2 months
Concerns: Balance and ambulation
stepping/walking
Stimulus/response
S: prone/supine position, turn head to one side
R: Limbs flex on one side, extend on other side
Concerns: feeding, tracking, bilateral hand use, rolling, crawling
Also called bow and arrow or fencer’s position
At risk for mm imbalances
Asymmetrical Tonic Neck, ATNR
symptoms of retained _____:
- balance may be affected as a result of head movements to either side
- difficulty crossing the midline
- hand dominance issues
- poor ocular “pursuit” movements, especially at the midline
- visual-perceptual problems
- dyslexia
- reading, listening, hand-writing and spelling difficulties
ATNR: Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex
Stimulus/response S: Neck flexion R: UE flex, LE extend S: Neck extension R: UE extend, LE flex
Duration: after birth - 3 months
Concerns: persistence may impede many motor skills (prone on UE, maintaining quadruped position, crawling, seated balance when head is moving) and cause spinal flexion deformities
Symmetrical Tonic neck, STNR
transitional reflex
integrates 9-11 months
transitions the baby from lying on the floor to being able to crawl
symptoms of retained _____:
- poor, haunched posture
- headaches from muscle tension in the neck
- diffficulty writing and reading
- difficulty sitting still
- “W” sitting
- difficulty copying from blackboard
- vision disorders
- difficulty staying on task
- when asked to crawl: bear walks, scoots on bottom
symmetrical tonic neck reflex, STNR
Stimulus/response
S: stroke across bottom of baby’s foot
R: Babby’s foot will fan out
Duration: birth - 12 months
Concerns: ambulation and balance
Babinski
Stimulus/response
S: place finger to roof of baby’s mouth
R: Baby will suck on anything put into their mouth
Duration: 28 weeks - 2 to 5 months
Concerns: oral motor development, developing midline head control optical righting, social interaction, visual tracking
suck-swallow reflex
