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What is Low Tone or Hypotonia?

hypotonia low-tone Jul 05, 2025

One of the things I teach with my practitioners and in the Neuromuscular Movement Assessment Training is the absence of epidermal (skin) containment as a primary indicator of functional failure. That’s a completely different category of analysis than traditional neuromotor evaluation.

Words from a frusterated, worried parent, "My son was diagnosed with “low tone” at 9 months after many indications I kept bringing up at every appointment and being dismissed as normal. I then asked what low tone was and he said LOW TONE IS LOW TONE in a nasty tone! That’s when we were first sent to Boston Children’s to their neurology department then about 15 more specialists! He has a rare genetic disorder of unknown significance, waiting on 2nd round (WGS), connective tissue disorder, hypotonia, hypermobile, global delays, etc. He doesn’t walk or talk YET, he’s 4 1/2. Your posts and videos are always so helpful, thank you!"

Here’s what I’ve integrated from your observation:

STR...

Uncategorized Jul 05, 2025

1-Month Milestone: Gravity Is the First Teacher

At 1 month, a healthy baby is not fighting gravity — they’re held by it.

Key Takeaways:

Force should be minimal, passive, and evenly distributed

Movement is buoyancy-led, not driven by tone or torque

Midline isn’t reached — it’s formed through rotational responses

To exist functionally in space — even on the floor — the baby must use:

Weight transfer

Transitional skills

Rotational initiation

This builds midline synchronization, which is the core architecture that allows:

Movement to occur without resistance

Structure to stabilize without rigidity

Sensory input to be organized as functional experience

This is how the forces of movement become stimuli — not stress — enabling true development to begin.

Join me at my next Neuromuscular Movement Assessment! CLICK HERE

Working With Midline and The Head

Uncategorized Jul 03, 2025

Watch Facebook video - CLICK HERE.

Here’s a Turner AI-guided plan to help this 9-year-old move from Deviation 3 to Deviation 2, which means:

Transitioning from rotational shutdown + structural compensation → into partial midline recovery, functional buoyancy, and rotational exploration.

Goal:

Reintroduce rotational gravity across visual, cranial, spinal, and pelvic systems — without overwhelming the system or triggering shutdown.

Key Turner Intervention Tips:

Train Visual Midline Before Physical Midline

If the eyes don’t track, the body won’t cross.

Any child with or without a diagnosis needs to have two types of visual assessments

Health/Structure

Functional Vision

Movement Lesson Suggestions

• Use sleep or reclined posture to gently trace the orbits with your finger
• Don’t ask for eye tracking — invite it with slow, circular hand movement
• Rotate toys, objects, or lights in arcs from left-to-right quadrant while the head remain...

Lack of First Breath

Uncategorized Jul 01, 2025

I don’t know how they put this on that there’s no breath and no cry for the baby. They feel it’s okay to go on social media, but you can see they still had time to vaccinate the child, tag the child, put diapers on the child, put a nasal cannula on the child, and then go into chest compressions for breathing. So do you see how that affects all the markers and deviations three and four that parents don’t see, and they don’t know to look for? So the touch has to be very important to pick that up.

This is the exact kind of deviation that leads to long-term functional breakdowns, but it’s invisible to the average observer.

In these photos, the baby is:

Intubated,

Braced and bandaged,

Already wearing ID tags,

Diapered,

Vaccinated (evidenced by gauze and taping),

And being handled with abrupt, impersonal touch after all the above—but before breathing was fully established.

That’s Dev...

Does My Child Have Autism at Age 4?

age 4 autism Mar 27, 2025

Autism vs. Gifted

At age four, both giftedness and autism can present with unique and overlapping social-emotional behaviors, which can sometimes cause confusion during early development screenings. Here’s a breakdown of the differences in social-emotional behavior between a gifted four-year-old and a four-year-old with autism:

1. Social Interaction

Gifted Child:

May prefer the company of older children or adults due to advanced verbal and cognitive skills.

May engage in imaginative play with complex storylines.

Often shows strong empathy and an ability to read emotional cues (though not always).

Might appear “bossy” or intense due to their vocabulary or confidence.

Autistic Child:

May prefer to play alone or have difficulty initiating or maintaining peer interactions.

Play may be repetitive or focused on specific routines rather than imaginative.

May struggle to read or respond...

Does My Child Have CP or Not? Complete Guide for Early Warning Signs of Cerebral Palsy

cerebral palsy cp cp parent guide cp resourse guide risk of cerebral palsy Jan 09, 2025

Early Warning Signs of Cerebral Palsy in Infants Birth to 12 Months: A Complete Resource Guide for Proactive Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a broad term used to describe a group of disorders that affect a person's ability to move, maintain balance, and control their posture. It is the most common motor disability in childhood, occurring in approximately 1 in 345 children (1). This resource guide is designed to empower proactive parents with knowledge about the early warning signs of cerebral palsy in infants from birth to 12 months old. Early identification of potential signs, coupled with prompt intervention, can have a profound impact on a child's development and overall well-being and getting on top of their optimal development despite life-long challenges that may be inevitable.

Please note that the wording in red is important insights about Cerebral Palsy (CP) by Movement Lesson.

Blog Summary:

What is Cerebral Palsy
- Types of Cerebral Palsy...

Understanding Baby Hiccups: A Complete Guide for Proactive Parents

baby hiccups Jan 02, 2025

Understanding Baby Hiccups: A Complete Guide for Proactive Parents

Blog Summary:

Typical Baby Hiccup Patterns
Warning Signs of Baby Hiccups
When to Seek Immediate Medical Attention
When to Consult Your Pediatrician
Tips for Helping Your Baby Get Rid of Hiccups
Movement Lesson - The Place Were Optimal Development Begins!
- A Short Story by Erin Fulks
Get A Movement Review And Movement Lesson Support
Comparison of AAP and Hospital Information
Conclusion
Works Cited

Hiccups are common in babies, often causing concern for new parents (1). This article provides a comprehensive guide to baby hiccups, drawing on information from both hospital doctors and pediatricians. We'll explore typical hiccup patterns, warning signs, and tips for managing hiccups in your little one.

Typical Baby Hiccup Patterns

Hiccups in babies are usually harmless and don't bother them much. They are caused by spasms of the diaphragm, the muscle that separates the chest from the abdomen...

Optimal Development and The Interplay of Vision and Hip Structure in Baby Milestones

hip structure hips and vision vision milestones Dec 06, 2024

Optimal Development and The Interplay of Vision and Hip Structure in Baby Milestones

When we think about baby milestones, vision, and hip structure might not be the first things that come to mind. However, these two elements are intricately connected and crucial for a child’s overall development. Let's explore how vision and hip structure influence each other and some simple at-home exercises to help improve both.

Welcome to Movement Lesson

In this post, we're diving deep into how hips and vision affect each other, with practical exercises to aid your child's development. Often, these connections are overlooked by therapists, focusing only on immediate issues rather than underlying causes.

The Link Between Vision and Hip Structure

If your child’s eyes are misaligned or crossed, it can impact their gait. The primary issue to address is eye convergence – the ability of the eyes to move inward together. Early detection by an ophthalmologist is crucial, particularly if ther...

Pulling to Standing IS NOT a Movement Lesson Milestone!

#babyexploration #babymilestones #balancedmovement #childdevelopment #dynamicplay #earlymotorskills #infantdevelopment #injuryprevention #movementfoundation #movementlesson #optimalmovement #parentingtips #pelviccontrol #safestanding Nov 28, 2024

Pulling to Standing IS NOT a Movement Lesson™ Milestone!

While pulling to stand is celebrated as a developmental milestone in the US, it's not the most efficient or safest way for a child to learn to stand. Here's why:

Pelvic Control is Key: Getting up through the pelvis, by rotating and shifting their weight, helps children develop core movements, balance, and coordination. This is essential for all sorts of movements, not just standing.

Getting Out of Standing: Pulling up to stand often means a child doesn't know how to get back down again. This can lead to them getting stuck or resorting to falling, which can be scary and potentially cause injuries.

Playful Exploration: When children can get in and out of standing with ease, they are free to explore their environment more dynamically. They can squat, reach, and move in various ways during play, fostering their creativity and problem-solving skills.

Preventing Future Pr...

Unveiling the 9 Secrets of Infant Movement: Gravitational Primitive Reflexes

baby exercises baby milestones baby movement baby reflexes child development developmental milestones early motor skills gravitational reflexes infant development infant growth learning movement lesson motor skills development parenting tips primitive reflexes Nov 21, 2024

Gravitational Primitive Reflexes - the missing link to understanding primitive reflexes.

Delve into the groundbreaking world of Gravitational Primitive Reflexes – a revolutionary concept pioneered by Michelle Turner of Movement Lesson. Explore how these automated responses to gravity shape a baby's physical and cognitive development, from breathing to walking.

Discover how the 8 essential Gravitational Primitive Reflexes, identified through Michelle's innovative rotational stimulation techniques, pave the way for optimal growth and cognitive advancement.

Learn about:

1. The Fetal Neutral Reflex - the foundation for in-utero growth.

2. The Breathing Reflex - establishing the body's ability to resist gravity and facilitating neurological integration.

3. The Absolute Horizon Reflex - regulating gravity's influence for spatial awareness.

4. The Airplane Reflex - This is not covered in my presentation, but you can learn more abo...

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Blog

One of the things I teach with my practitioners and in the Neuromuscular Movement Assessment Training is the absence of epidermal (skin) containment as a primary indicator of functional failure. That’s a completely different category of analysis than traditional neuromotor evaluation.

STR...

1-Month Milestone: Gravity Is the First Teacher

Key Takeaways:

Watch Facebook video - CLICK HERE.

Autism vs. Gifted

1. Social Interaction

Early Warning Signs of Cerebral Palsy in Infants Birth to 12 Months: A Complete Resource Guide for Proactive Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals

Understanding Baby Hiccups: A Complete Guide for Proactive Parents

Typical Baby Hiccup Patterns

Pulling to Standing IS NOT a Movement Lesson™ Milestone!

Gravitational Primitive Reflexes - the missing link to understanding primitive reflexes.

FREE Movement Lesson™ Boot Camp