OT Rex - ATNR versus STNR - Reflex breakdown

I don't know about you guys but I had such a hard time visualizing STNR when I was studying it. It didn't occur to me until I saw the retained reflex in real life cases what exactly these reflexes looked like and how it would impact the child. I decided to make this video to clearly break down why we have primitive reflexes, what purpose they serve, why they go away, and what happens if they don't. Asking the why is very important in getting the full picture of what reflexes do, not just what the stimulus and reaction is.
None of the pictures are mine. Most are from Solve Learning Disabilities website:
www.solvelearningdisabilities...
www.solvelearningdisabilities...
www.toolstogrowot.com/blog/20...
If you're having a hard time understanding how these are tested, please refer to these videos:
• Asymmetrical Tonic Nec...
• Retained Primitive Ref...
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
Disclaimer: This video is for informational purposes only, which include my personal study tips and ideas for OT/COTA students. It should not be substituted for any form of professional education or medical advice. Please advise any comments regarding/seeking medical or professional advice will not be addressed. Effort to create accurate content is made but please use your discretion when it comes to the recency of this information. Every effort is made to cite sources of credible articles, research, and information including pictures/charts for informational/teaching fair use purposes.

[@dl32429]

Your explanations is always the best!! Thank you so much

[@simplethnicious]

I have literally studied this reflexes from others YT and websites.. Your explanations are the most crystal clear and easily understood. Love it... I am waiting more on primitive reflexes.. Subs and Like..

[@OTRex]

This made me so happy to hear! It's such a tricky topic so I'm glad it helped you understand it better. :)

[@avneetamedicly6265]

Beautifully explained!! Looking forward to many more videos! Subscribed!

[@shayfran6113]

Great job explaining this. Helped so much

[@shrutikarajurkar8212]

very nicely explained .....thank you so much . looking forward for more such videos

[@TheJazzyTrumpet]

Thank you! this was amazing

[@MsTmgc]

Excellent explanation! Thank you

[@taj8504]

Thank you. It was easy to understand compared to what I saw. Good job.

[@OTRex]

Great to hear!

[@androspuddy2]

Wow! I've never commented on a YT video, but I had to say "Thank You" publicly. This is one for my personal library! Such a short, simple, CONCISE explanation! P.S; thanks for not singing and not doing all of that 'extra' stuff!!

[@OTRex]

So glad it helped! Thanks for the lovely comment.

[@mariaalexandrabenitez8132]

Thank you for sharing what helped you learn ATNR vs STNR

[@davidtoastin]

Great video

[@bryansmith2344]

Ot tube is prob the best channel if occupational therapy students are looking to prepare for their exams in my opinion

[@OTRex]

Thanks for the kind comment Bryan!

[@aminxrockmetal]

Thank you so much

[@leannesavoie6469]

Hey! I like the way you explain everything / still trying to understand how to assess it. My daughter has hardly any head and neck control - she was diagnosed with hypotonia (still under investigation for the cause). How do you assess ATNR in a baby with central hypotonia? It’s honestly like she can’t communicate properly to her arms/legs at times so I’m not sure how I’d be able to assess if it’s still there or not. Since she was born she’s shown inconsistency with reflexes. For ex. Her startle reflex was more pronounced at two months then it was in her first few weeks of life - and it has now integrated by about 4 months

[@alyssagriffin9455]

Thank you!! What kinds of interventions would you recommend for ATNR/STNR that weren't integrated? The only thing I'm aware of so far is the MNRI method for reflex integration. I wonder if there's anything more functional?

[@OTRex]

Hi Alyssa! It depends on the age and functional ability of the person we are working it. I incorporate the movements into yoga poses for my little ones and give them silly names like the cat pose. STNR and ATNR can be tackled in floor time play with tunnels and crawl/creep chase and even on the yoga ball if you have them weightbear on their stomach and turn their head side to side or up and down if that makes sense. I find that it's still effective as passive exercises if the person has limited active movement as well. There are a lot of free videos on youtube with exercises. Hope that helps!

At 7:14, why would the arms bending with head extension indicate the STNR reflex is still active? My understanding is that STNR causes UE extension with head extension, and therefore, expect that a non-integrated STNR reflex would present with UE extension with head extension.

[@OTRex]

Hi! I can see why that picture may be misleading. A non-integrated STNR does cause UE extension with head extension. The picture at 7:14 shows signs of possible non-integration when a child is in quadruped pose [lower body(LB) is in flexion]. It is not saying that arm flexion and head extension happen together for STNR+. The arms mildly bending (especially if the child is very unstable in this position) can be an indicator of upper body weakness which is a possible sign of non-integrated STNR. In the picture, the child is in LB flexion+head extension but you see postural/UE weakness if the child is swaying their weight back or their arms are shaky/slightly bent. If the STNR+ child had their head in flexion, their arms would bend much more while their LB extended as if they were doing a bear crawl. For textbook purposes, it's best to study it as written at 4:57 but in clinical practice, we look for other signs in addition to this in case they have mild STNR if that makes sense. I usually see kids shaking/fidgety and their elbows bend just a little because they're trying to so hard to hold the position in STNR+ cases like 7:14. I hope that makes sense!

[@dim1377]

@@OTRex is there a connection between an active STNR and weak core muscles/posture?

[@jamessmith4681]

thanks

[@kathythureen9341]

THIS IS A VERY INTERSTING VIDEO.