The Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex (TLR) Backwards
Emerges at birth
Inhibits 6 weeks to 3 years of life (inhibits gradually)
Stimulus and response Movement of the head far backwards causes immediate extension of arms and legs
Function To help baby push down the birth canal, and to help newborn to straighten out from foetal position and develop muscle tone and balance. A bridge that’s necessary for the development of STNR, Landau reflex and postural reflexes.
Effect when retained Problems with vestibular system, affecting balance, coordination and orientation. Stiff jerky movements due to leg muscles wanting to extend more than flex.
Potential symptoms
- Motion sickness
- Spatial problems
- May impede creeping and crawling (upward movement of head makes legs extend)
- Leaden leg movements
- Tendency to tiptoe
- ‘Growing pains’ in legs
- Slumping in seat
- Poor organisational skills
- Foreshortening of hamstrings, carpal and Achilles tendons
The importance of creeping and crawling
There is some confusion as to what is creeping and what is crawling. On this website I use the most commonly understood meaning of crawling – moving along on hands and knees, which supersedes creeping along the floor on the tummy like a commando. Both are essential for development of the vestibular and visual systems of the body, allowing the baby to develop a sense of balance, space and depth. Crawling also aids inhibition of the early reflexes and helps develop cross-laterality, the integration of both sides of the brain and of fluid locomotion. When eyes look at each hand in turn, they cross the body’s mid-line, which develops near vision and aids fluent reading. Missing out the crawling stage can be indicative of retained reflexes, and can have severe consequences on a child’s development.
