Studia Kinanthropologica

Studia Kinanthropologica 2020, 21(3):227-234

The issue of persistent primary reflexes in primary school pupils

L. Daněk^*, A. Skotáková, D. Puda, P. Vaculíková, M. Sebera

Masarykova univerzita, Fakulta sportovních studií

Primary reflexes help us to survive intrauterine, during childbirth or in the first months after childbirth. After sufficient stimulus, they should be inhibited, but if this stimulus is not received or the central nervous system develops abnormally, these primary reflexes may persist, adversely affect the child's development and cause symptoms similar to those of specific learning disabilities. The aim of this article is to determine the prevalence of primary reflexes in children aged 7-8 years, to find out how the amount of primary reflexes will change after 6 months without a special intervention and what are the differences between boys and girls. In children, 7 tests were performed on 6 primary reflexes, which can affect them during school teaching. The level (0 - indicative of no evidence of primary reflex; 4 - the highest level of persistent primary reflex) was also evaluated for each primary reflex. Boys have been shown to have a higher percentage of primary reflexes than girls and have often reached higher levels. When measured repeatedly after 6 months, there was a statistically significant decrease in landau reflex in girls group (p = 0.028). In boys group there was a statistical decrease in reflex for the labyrinth postural reflex (p = 0.028), the landau reflex (p = 0.028), the asymmetric tonic neck reflex - a test on all four (p = 0.028) and the Schilder test (p = 0.005). These results could be used as a basis for creating an educational plan and curriculum for physical education in primary schools.

Keywords: primary reflexes; specific learning difficulties; ATNR

Published: September 30, 2020  Show citation