Brainaard

physiotherapist

Justyna Miller

*friends call her Isia

Alternation of the two hemispheres? How can you integrate them?

Alternate work such as bringing the hands together in the centre line of the body, manipulations and putting the hands in the mouth affect the activity of both hemispheres simultaneously. With these kinds of activities, the brain establishes new connections.

In the very first weeks, the nervous system is formed at the midbrain level, during which the most primitive reflexes are visible, such as the sucking, grasping, or Moro reflexes. These reflexes allow the child to survive in the external environment. As time goes by, the nervous system matures, shaping the conduction at the level of the spinal cord. At this time, the child’s movements are still uncoordinated and spontaneous. It is only at the next stage of maturity, at the level of the cerebral cortex, that movements become conscious and intentional.

Every activity that activates both hemispheres of the brain has an impact on the development of coordination and their integration. Brainaard motivates parents to keep in mind the activities that engage both hemispheres, and it teaches the child to cross the midline of the body. Grabbing the foot on the opposite side will educate the baby about the schema of his or her own body while pulling the legs up to the abdomen will strengthen central stabilisation. In addition, it will support the development of rotation where the shoulder and hip girdle are not in relation to each other, which are the first signs of rolling to the side and lead to the child’s full rotation from back to tummy. When your baby is dressed in Brainaard, connect his or her right hand with the opposite leg by holding the pelvis and showing him or her the same colours. In time, the baby will begin to grab the feet without any assistance. You can place your hands under the baby’s bottom and gently lift it so the toddler notices the legs.

Central stabilisation?

Central stabilisation is a kind of commanding centre of our body in terms of stability, which allows us to execute movements easily in various conditions. It is a complex of deep muscles (transversus abdominis, paraspinal muscles, oblique abdominal muscles, diaphragm, pelvic floor muscles) which, if strong enough, allow stability in movement. This ensures that the child’s activities are ergonomic, meaning that the child does not need to exert a lot of effort to walk, climb or crawl, for example. It is essential to ensure from the beginning that the child exercises against the force of gravity in different positions; lying on the back and lying on the stomach, always on a firm surface. It is crucial to let babies take charge when training their bodies, rather than taking over.