What are neurodevelopmental movements?
- Neurodevelopmental movements are innate, automatic movements all healthy babies do in the womb and during infancy as long as their development is unhindered and not stressed. These movements, called reflexes and rhythmic movements, are the mechanisms that fuel the tremendous rate of brain growth that occurs during infancy. These movements are crucial for the development of the brain, sensory, motor and nervous systems.
- Regardless of one’s age, these movements assist in wiring and re-wiring the brain to create new nerve connections and more efficient pathways among existing nerves, and for laying down the neuro-sensory-motor foundations for higher level skills such as language development, social interaction and learning. After injury or trauma, neurodevelopmental movements give us a second chance to rebuild the foundations of brain and body health.
