I recently had the opportunity to witness the amazing transformation of a young boy who was struggling with his gross motor skills and eye movements. What is important is the fact that he is a true testament to the power of post-motor and primitive reflex integration therapy.
When he first came to see me, he was six years old and had already been diagnosed with accommodative esotropia, a condition where the eye turns in due to the inability of the eye muscles to focus properly. He had poor language skills, couldn’t read, and was not matching his peers in various skill sets. It was clear that he needed help, and we immediately got to work.
One of the things that stood out to me was the fact that he couldn’t walk until he was 18 months old. This was a clear indication that his gross motor skills were underdeveloped. We focused heavily on gross motor skills in the first eight sessions. We did activities such as Spiderman crawling, making a Superman pose, bear walking, hopping, and more. Exercises like these eventually helped him learn how to stand on one foot for at least 3 seconds, clap in unison, and crawl symmetrically.
After just eight sessions, the young boy’s grandfather noticed that he had a flatter stomach and had built up a lot of muscle. This was a clear indication that the gross motor skills we had been working on were having a positive impact on his physical development. We haven’t even moved on to eye therapy, which would aim to improve his eye movements and reduce the frequency of his eye alternations.
What I found most fascinating about this case was how much the young boy’s progress in gross motor skills helped to improve his eye movements. Big muscles teach small muscles how to do things. With a good gross motor foundation, small muscles will automatically kick in, including the eye muscles.
Although this case is still in progress, I can already see the incredible impact that post-motor and primitive reflex integration therapy has had on this young boy’s life. He is no longer struggling with his gross motor skills and is making progress with his eye movements. This is a true testament to the power of this type of therapy and the importance of getting kids to be active.
If you have a child who is struggling with strabismus, consult a developmental optometrist for a functional evaluation to see if vision therapy can help. It can make a world of difference in their development and overall quality of life.