The Power of Cross-Body Connections

Twelve-year-old Leo has been going to Thrive since June 2023, working with Elizabeth on a number of areas of development. As a child that used to refuse school and withdraw from activities, he’s shown tremendous progress while working on integrating his defensive reflexes. 

From an early age, Leo has also worn bifocals and was diagnosed with a form of convergent eye deviation called accommodative esotropia. The strong lenses were put in place to help his eye muscles better work in tandem, but the routine ophthalmologist visits had been bleak. Each time, they’d hear his eyes were the same, sometimes worse.

Elizabeth has been incorporating new exercises into Leo’s sessions, focused on cross-body midline movements that impact eye tracking and teaming. This work calls upon Leo’s vestibular system with head movements that support balance, coordination and his visual motor development. 

After a recent visit to the ophthalmologist, Leo’s mom reached out with good news:

“He was lit up. For the first time ever, his eyes weren’t the same or worse. The exercises were making his eyes stronger.”

For this first time since his diagnosis at age 5, his eyes are showing signs of improvement. In fact, this means Leo may now even be a candidate for contacts, a reality that’s very exciting for him!

The eyes, tongue, hands and feet are the last parts of our bodies to develop refined movements. Crossing movements and coordination exercises create the foundation for those fine motor movements. Simple yet powerful movements, like wiper blade motion, helps to rehearse and integrate these reflexes. 

Leo’s work at Thrive has unlocked his interest in golf and tennis for the first time, as he explores new ways to move his body with confidence. In fact, the work at Thrive Therapy has unlocked Leo’s ability to tie his own shoes for the first time in his life.  

The vestibular system helps with balance, coordination and spatial awareness. From daily tasks like tying a shoe and sitting upright to swinging a golf club, the reflexes that help us be successful in those activities may be underdeveloped and benefit from consistent cross midline exercises.