FEAR PARALYSIS - Retained Primitive Reflex Integration Home Exercises.
Disclaimer: These exercises are general advice only and are not specific to you or your child. They are intended for educational purposes only and it's highly recommended you seek assistance from your local health practitioner for assessment, diagnosis and management.
Nomad Chiropractic in Mosman, NSW take you through some options for home exercises that may help you/you child to integrate the retained reflex, which could significantly improve the related symptoms or signs.
STEPS:
1. COBRA STRETCH with a COUGH.
- Lie on your tummy; resting on your elbows at 90 degrees.
- Look up and to the right as far as you can
- Cough 3 times
- Swap sides
- Repeat
2. VAGUS NERVE STRETCH - assisted.
a) Lie on your child on their back and massage just above the collarbones
b) Place one hand on the upper sternum and the other on the belly button and gently traction hands apart with a slight pressure toward the floor.
- Instruct the child to cough 3 times.
c) Turn the child's head to the right.
- Place one hand on their left shoulder; and the other cupped over their left ear.
- Gentle pressure to traction the hands apart with a slight pressure toward the floor.
- Instruct the child to cough 3 times
- Repeat the opposite side
d) Place one hand just above the left hip bone; and the other hand just below the right rib cage, on the tummy.
- Gentle traction of hands apart; whilst slight pressure toward the floor
-Instruct the child to cough 3 times
- Repeat the opposite side
AND REPEAT!
Need some help? Contact your local Chiropractor, Osteopath, Physio, OT, GP who has training in retained primitive reflexes. They can help by assessment of their active reflexes; and a combination of physical therapy and better advice or demonstration of these exercises might help you and your child to integrate these reflexes.
Please note: - Karli is perfectly imperfect in her demonstration of these.
- These exercises are intended as general advice; they are not specific to your individual needs. If you're experiencing any discomfort or pain please seek professional help.
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Primitive reflexes are automatic movements present at birth that help a baby’s brain and body develop. As your child matures, these reflexes should integrate and make way for higher-level motor, sensory, and learning skills. When a reflex remains “retained,” it can affect posture, coordination, behaviour, emotional regulation, and milestones. At Nomad Chiropractic Mosman, we assess these reflexes gently and provide chiropractic adjustments, red laser theray where indicated and home exercises to support healthy integration.
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Signs can include poor balance, clumsiness, difficulty sitting still, emotional reactivity, delayed milestones, poor handwriting, reading or focus challenges, toe-walking, sensory sensitivities, or ongoing tension. Each reflex shows up differently.
During a paediatric consultation at Nomad Chiropractic in Mosman on YSndey’s Lower North Shore, we test each reflex and guide you on a personalised care plan including home exercises.
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These exercises are designed to help the brain strengthen pathways involved in coordination, posture, sensory processing, and emotional regulation. While every child is unique, many families see improvements in calmness, confidence, coordination, and learning readiness when exercises are done consistently. Our approach at Nomad Chiropractic Mosman is gentle, structured, and evidence-informed.
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Most exercises are short and are designed to be done daily or at least several times per week for best results. Consistency is key — small, frequent movements help create stronger neural pathways. Your chiropractor at Nomad will tailor the frequency and progressions based on your child’s age, presentation, and goals.
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Yes — gentle paediatric chiropractic care can support the nervous system, stimulate cortical function, improve mobility, reduce tension, and help the body process sensory input more efficiently. Combined with home exercises, it can create a strong foundation for reflex integration and overall development. Our paediatric-trained chiropractors in Mosman assess reflexes, posture, tone, and milestones to build a personalised plan for your child.
