Peak Performance
As a hockey player, Danny had to scan the ice, shifting his perspective from the big picture to his own position in a matter of moments before striking. Danny felt pressure to play well, and his adrenaline was clouding his vision. When his body failed to settle down, he made hasty plays and mistakes. He came at the puck with unbridled force.
When he turned to RMTi for support, it was clear that his right and left-brain connections were weak. As a child, Danny barely crawled before walking, his coordination struggling in the prone position and his active Moro driving his fight or flight. With less time strengthening his crawling movements, his cross-lateral brain connections and his ATNR remained immature. Ultimately, Elizabeth noted, this impacted his visual tracking and processing. Danny’s peripheral vision, his ability to truly scan the field as an effective player and most importantly, to maintain calm and control under moments of stress, were related to those active reflexes.
Danny found the therapy work was exactly what his body craved. Cross-lateral movement exercises before games, often from the bench, helped him feel calm, grounded and dialed in. He practiced eye tracking movements that supported the type of scanning he needed as a player on the field. For Danny, a sensation of being alert yet calm filled him with confidence. He became a play-maker and by his sophomore year, his performance paid off with a spot on the Varsity hockey team.
By applying movements that support the integration of his primitive reflexes, particularly those supporting his vestibular system and visual motor systems, Danny not only found improved athletic performance but coping mechanisms that transferred to other areas of his life. He approached his classwork and relationships with presence and a better ability to balance. His work helped to calm his nervous system and form important connections in his body.
If you’re interested in understanding how reflex integration impacts athletic performance and an athlete’s mindset, reach out here and consider attending one of our upcoming workshops.
