Yonemoto Physical Therapy

Learning is very much affected by the ways in which an individual has trained the body to move.  For example, the movement skills one acquires as a baby, toddler, child, or even as an adult can affect how we use our eyes and process visual information. Movement skills create the foundation for the finer control of the eye muscles and subsequent learning abilities.  If a person has a weak neck or trunk, they have to work harder to keep the eyes level to focus.

We are all born with primitive reflexes designed to help us in the first months of life. These primitive reflexes disappear as we develop strength, coordination and control of our bodies, but can reappear when one experiences a stroke or head trauma.  Parents and teachers can help with the process of integrating these primitive reflexes by encouraging movement skills to develop strength, balance, eye-hand coordination, and timing.

Adults with head trauma also have problems processing visual information which can affect reading, walking without bumping into furniture and other visual tasks.  Older adults in their 50's and up, who have had physical education classes throughout their schooling and who have played outside more while growing up, performed better or had an easier time relearning than those who were in their 20's when they had the head trauma.  These older adults had a better foundation in their movement skill development than the younger patients, who grew up more with computers and video games and spent less time playing outside.
 
Children's outdoor activities help develop more body strength, eye-hand coordination, balance and better physical fitness.  Games like hopscotch, jump rope, playing with jacks, climbing, playing with balls, all contribute to balance, coordination, timing, strength and fine motor skill development.  The large muscles of the body set the stage or create the foundation for the finer skills needed for the eyes.

Infants need to go through various stages of development so these primitive reflexes get integrated into the nervous system for normal movement.  Oftentimes, parents are anxious for their child to walk early, but there are good reasons for the crawling stage
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The Greeks were very much in favor of keeping the balance between mind and body.  Especially now, in this time of computers and with the emphasis on intellectual pursuits, we need to make sure we include a healthy dose of physical activity in our children’s daily life.  Perhaps this would be a good thing for all of us, at any age.

Yonemoto Physical Therapy
55 S. Raymond Ave., Suite 100
Alhambra, CA 91801
PHONE:  626 576 0591
FAX: 626 576 5890

Links:
http://www.yonemoto.com/ - Yonemoto Physical Therapy home page
http://www.yonemoto.com/programs/IMT.htm - Integrative Manual Therapy, a Hands-On Approach
http://www.yonemoto.com/programs/qigong.htm - Qigong to boost the immune system

Technorati Tags: Exercise and Learning, Movement skills, eye muscles, primitive reflexes, head trauma, eye-hand coordination, physical education classes, children, outdoor activities, balance, mind and body, playing games, crawling, improve vision, physical therapy Alhamb