REFLEX EXERCISES

Myofunktional Exercise  Collect ion

Application:

no illustration

This chapter gives a general description of a collective group of exercises and details which are sharing the here described facts. 

Reflex exercises will, logically, find their application for disorders in the reflex circuit. The disruption of muscle function may have quite different causes.

Fails the reflectory control for the acquisition of a Stand-by or Resting Position this may as well result in a hypo as in a hyper tonicity in the musculature. Moreover this may lead to the configuration of a false reflex as, for example, the teeth pressing or grinding.

Here would prevail in principle a preferably static defect which correspondingly would require the application of rather static exercises.

Commonly a reflex is seen as the, later described, fluent muscle action. Moreover it should be considered that, per definitionem, a reflex is an unconscious muscle action triggered by a respective receptor triggering. This would consist in the above explained example in an elicitor (trigger) stimulus of a foreign body feeling upon the masticatory plain of a tooth. The reflex respond ensues as long as the elicitor triggering functions (unless a system change will happen as for example muscle fatigue or a blunting of the receptor associated with a lifting of the stimulation threshold).

A  kinetic defect within the reflex proceedings will become perceptible when within a flowing muscle action parts of the reflex chain fail, i.e., motion parts do no longer fulfil the physiological frame. In a situation like that the organism will adapt with a compensatory reflex to fulfil the functional requirements as well as possible. This is a case where more likely kinetic or function kinetic exercises would be indicated.

Therapy starting point can not be the reflex itself as it, per definitionem, happens unconsciously and so can not be influenced consciously. An approach is offered indirectly through receptors (trigger, elicitor) influencing the control. This may be done either during the triggering phase or through the feed-back- stimuli which are controlling the running process in a flanking manner.

Reflex exercises are quite complex and require a wide-ranging reconstructive preparation so that they will obligatorily be positioned into the end phase of the overall therapy planning. Beforehand within the target musculature the sensory and motor components will have to be lifted on a physiological standard through single exercises. This, for example, means that Sensitivity, Orientation, Mobility, Motility and Tonicity should be positioned within the physiological span (frame). The target muscle will only then in respect of its neuro-motor function be capable of executing reflex exercises.

It will often be necessary to eliminate an existing compensatory reflex to open the way for the reconstruction of the physiological reflex. To establish this exercises are put in which impede or interrupt the course or which direct the concentration (the conscious) of the patient towards certain movements.

The training through reflex exercises being finished the target area will be able to let the functional movements pass off.

The follow-up phase will have to effect that this really happens; this is the habituation phase for the anchoring into the unconscious and, furthermore the monitoring over a longer phase of  after-care.

Contents:

The contents of the reflex training is built up from a vivid description of the malfunction, from the schooling of the reflex circuit (and elimination of the compensatory reflex) and finally the anchoring into the unconscious.

Materials:

Exercise specific. The complete armoury of aiding means and methods must be mobilised.

Procedure:

- Previous exercises: (necessary respectively 

  recommendable applications for the exercise to be built up upon).

-Starting position: Exercise specific.

- Step-by-step-description:

-1 The misconduct is described in a lively manner,

-2 the body feeling within the target area is improved.

-3 the muscles are trained,

-4 the reflexes taught;

-5 existing compensatory reflexes are obstructed

-6 a comprising self and external monitoring is appointed,

-7 followed by the habituation.

An accompanying requirement is a constant (re-)motivation.

The after-care will be designed as to be taken over step by step from the patient.

-Timing: This refers to the chronological arrangement within the overall training concept which will be the result of the course depicted above.

Characteristics:

Here as well the whole catalogue of items may be cited.

Remarks:

A wrongly schooled reflex is more vicious then an accommodation, the compensatory reflex adapted by the organism.

Discussion:

On the special field of MFT with reflex disorders we are frequently confronted with those of the deglutition reflex. If other reflexes are affected the disorder often is interwoven with it as it involves the complete orofacial / Stomatognathic (craniocervical) musculature in its course.

Has this reflex successfully been reconstructed in its physiological course quite often other reflectory defects will improve ‘on their own’.

Reflex therapy is impracticable under the existence of habits or lacking cooperation respectively motivation. The magic word is ‘Compliance’.

Many times therapy is only viable under a coordinated cooperation on the different special fields (interdisciplinary).

Available are besides exercises for the total reflex the partial reflex exercises as well which are aiming at training parts (chain links) of a reflex chain.

In the following list exercises are recorded with short explanations which are suitable for a reflex training.

The following list shows all the exercises which are fitting the respective three cited classes.

LIST OF EXERCISES

OPEN AND CLOSE.

Occluding the mandibulary against the maxillary teeth

MASH SWALLOW.

Total reflex without mastication

THREE-RING-EXERCISE.

Feed-back control

THE  PEA.

Joint control

MNEMONIC.

Aid for schooling

EAT-(AND DRINK-)EXERCISE.

Reflex habituation

DRIVING SEAT.

Instruction

FEED-BACK-EXERCISE.

Reflex control

BLOW THE FLAKE.

Respiratory stream

LIQUID SWALLOW.

Total reflex, subtask

YAWNING MAN.

Pharynx reflex

PALATE-SLIDE.

Partial reflex, Cranio-dorso version

BASIC-POSITION.

Periphery tonicity

ELASTIC EXERCISES   .

Feed-back control

HABITUATION EXERCISES.

Reflex habituation

HAND-MIRROR.

Self-control

TOUCH-THE-BUTTON.

Partial reflex exercise

CONTINUOUS SWALLOW.

Reflex continuity, habituation

CRUMB SWALLOW.

Total reflex, Subtask

BLANK SWALLOW.

Total reflex, Subtask

LIPS OPEN.

Reflex circuit breaker

SUCKER.

Habituation

MEMOS.

Self monitoring

MOTIVATION EXERCISES

Cooperation and perseverance

NIGHT SCHEDULE.

Self monitoring

DIMPLE.

Partial reflex

PLUSMINUS.

Self monitoring

SWALLOWPICTURE

Motivation

DEGLUTITION

Instruction

SWALLOW REFLEX EXERCISES 

List of exercises                                                 

SWALLOW-MECHANISM.

Description, Biomechanics

SLURP-AND-SWALLOW.

Partial reflex, Mnemonic

RAPID SWALLOW.

Habituation

TIMETABLES.

Self-control

WATER-RETAINER.

Partial reflex

WATER CARRIER.

Partial reflex

WORDEXERCISES 1. THIRD.

Partial reflex, speech

WORDEXERCISES 2. THIRD.

Partial reflex, speech

WORDEXERCISES 3. THIRD.

Partial reflex, speech

TEETHCLICKING.

Reflex circuit breaker

,ZIP’-EXERCISE.

Partial reflex

TONGUE STORY.

Instruction, Motivation

TONGUE STROKING.

Partial reflex

TONGUE DABBING.

Partial reflex

TWO-RING-EXERCISE.

Feed-back control

Instructions: