Our Reflexes and Muscle Tone

George’s parents were frightened and confused. Following his birth, they were alarmed to hear of a significant and life-threatening heart condition. He endured a battery of tests that kept him apart from Mary, his mother, for nearly 72 hours after birth. He was then emergency transferred to Lurie Children’s NICU for sixteen days before coming home. 

Doctors could not place a direct diagnosis, but it was evident that he had extremely low muscle tone. Without the ability or desire to latch, and an almost non-existent suck reflex, George struggled to thrive.

Mary watched her baby sleep, his head lolling to the side. His muscular control and developmental movements were negligible. Doctors failed to identify a genetic or neurological disease, but pointed to a similarity with what is known as ‘floppy head syndrome,’ commonly associated with weak neck extensor muscles. 

After seeking support through a dentist and lactation consultant, it was discovered that George had a tongue tie. When its release still left severe muscular challenges, the family received a recommendation to try rhythmic movement therapy at Thrive.

Elizabeth helped Mary and her husband to understand the role that reflex integration plays in strengthening muscle tone, and how so many of the challenges her son was facing stemmed from immaturities in his defensive reflexes. He showed signs of an active fear paralysis reflex since his traumatic birth, preventing him from reaching a chain of developmental milestones like feeding, holding his head upright and attempting to crawl.

RMTi addressed weaknesses in George’s cervical spine and helped to slowly integrate his fear paralysis through very gentle, very gradual movement. Working with an infant, who does not yet have a voice, requires mindfulness of the exertion required for movement. Even a small amount, Mary learned, could be effective for her son.

“Elizabeth could sense when his body was done with the work,” she says, of watching his little face turn red as his nervous system exhausted.

The weekly sessions soon turned to an at-home daily ritual of rhythmic movement. With Elizabeth’s guidance, Mary learned to facilitate exercises in the comfort of their own home. Together, they worked through rolling, sitting up, crawling and eventually walking. They slowly met every early gross motor milestone, as George’s reflexes moved toward integration and his muscle tone improved.

George is now enjoying family walks around the neighborhood, running and digging in the dirt. He’s chatting about Bluey and Disney World, and he loves riding his dad’s shoulders. He’s constantly striking superhero poses. George turns four this May and through RMTi, he’s become a bit of a superhero himself.