Spinal Galant Reflex Integration: Signs, Effects, and Exercises

As an early developmental movement pattern, the spinal galant reflex plays a big role in a person’s emotional regulation, sensory processing, and postural control. If this reflex is retained, children can experience a range of physical and mental health concerns that impact their well-being.

The effects this reflex has on the body become clearer when you learn the way it works. In order to improve their child’s functioning and help integrate this reflex, parents may want to learn what the spinal galant reflex is, how to test it, and the many ways it affects a growing body.

In this article, I will explain the mechanisms of the spinal galant reflex as well as detail the signs of a retained spinal galant reflex. I will also educate you on the various spinal galant reflex exercises that can help integrate this reflex and improve your child’s overall functioning.

What Is the Spinal Galant Reflex?

The spinal galant is one of several primitive reflexes. Primitive reflexes are involuntary muscle movements present in the early years of a child’s life. These reflexes assist with vital functions and movements such as breathing, eating, grasping, and more. Some primitive reflexes are present at birth, while others appear within the first few months of a child’s life.

Certain reflexes, such as the blink reflex and the gag reflex, stay with us throughout our lives because they are meant to protect us. The spinal galant, however, is one example of a primitive reflex that should disappear (or integrate). This happens as the brain matures and replaces reflexes with more advanced movements.

As with some other reflexes, the spinal galant is first seen before a child is born, specifically around the 20th week of the mother’s pregnancy. It continues to develop across a pregnancy and is considered fully developed at the time of a child’s birth. This reflex appears for several months and should disappear between 3 and 9 months of age. 

To test this reflex with a young child, place them on their stomach on the floor or couch. You can have older children get on the floor on all fours – with flat hands, straight arms, and bent knees supporting their weight. Once your child is in position, locate their spine, which is made up of the small bones that run the length of their back. Starting at their shoulders, place one finger next to the spine and run it all the way down their back. You can do this on the right or the left side, just remember which side you used.

Pay attention to your child’s response. If the reflex is integrated, your child’s back should move very slightly or not at all. If the reflex is still present, you will see your child’s back twitch or curl on the side that you touched. For example, if you placed your finger on the right side of your child’s back during testing, you should see twitching, curling, or muscle tension on the right side.

What Is the Role of the Spinal Galant Reflex in Development?

In the early years of a child’s life, the spinal galant reflex has several important jobs. Because it is present before a child is born, it helps a baby move their hips to assist with the birthing process. As time goes on, this reflex continues to increase hip motion along with whole-body coordination to prepare a baby for crawling. 

The spinal galant reflex also strengthens the back muscles, which further helps with gross motor skills such as sitting upright, crawling, standing, and walking. The spinal galant also assists with the development of body awareness and balance. It usually surprises people to learn that the structures responsible for balance are located in the inner ear. This reflex also plays a role in hearing, which is one of the body’s sensory functions.

When Should the Spinal Galant Reflex Integrate?

Typically, the spinal galant reflex will integrate between the ages of 3 and 9 months. It is important to remember that all children are different, meaning this may happen closer to the 3-month mark for some or closer to 9 months for others. This reflex tends to integrate for many children around 6 months of age. If this reflex does not integrate, it is not necessarily a cause for concern unless your child has difficulty with certain physical or mental functions.

When the spinal galant reflex integrates, children can expect to see the following outcomes:

• Improved postural control
• Greater short-term memory skills
• Increased emotion regulation
• Enhanced focus
• Smoother, safer walking patterns
• Fewer episodes of bedwetting
• Less fidgeting and restlessness

Signs of a Retained Spinal Galant Reflex

Based on my experience as a pediatric occupational therapist, I have seen a range of telltale signs that point toward the retention of the spinal galant reflex. While these signs may sound like they are associated with certain health conditions, they are not necessarily an indication of a diagnosable problem. Parents should focus on understanding how this retained reflex can potentially impact their child’s functioning in school, at home, and elsewhere. If your child displays any of these concerns, they may benefit from spinal galant reflex integration exercises.

Sensory and tactile sensitivity

When children demonstrate a retained spinal galant reflex, it is common for them to have sensory sensitivities, specifically related to tactile (or touch) input. Since this reflex relates to the spine, it can cause difficulty responding to touch on or near the back. This means children may have trouble tolerating the feel of tags or seams on clothing (most often shirts or socks).

These responses may also arise from uncomfortable waistbands, especially such as those on jeans, trousers, or other traditionally “stiff” pants. However, this may also occur due to any waistband that is tight or feels restrictive. Children with a retained spinal galant reflex may also have sensitivity to bed sheets, blankets, towels, or wet bathing suits when they touch their back.

Posture and body positioning

Since the spinal galant reflex involves the back muscles, children who have retained this reflex may have difficulty maintaining certain postures that are simple for their peers. They may demonstrate weakness and fatigue when trying to sit upright at their desk or during meals.

A retained spinal galant reflex may also cause children to fatigue when standing, running, and jumping for even a short time. This can cause them to struggle keeping up while playing sports, during recess and gym class, and other endurance-related activities.

Movement and coordination

A retained spinal galant reflex can lead to incoordination, which may look like choppy, rigid, or slow movements. These may be obvious as a child completes simple movements such as walking, interacting with objects around them, and playing. 

Many of the activities we discussed above require children to display even more advanced movement skills, such as hand-eye coordination and bilateral body movements. Children with a retained spinal galant reflex can also have problems with those activities.

Regulation and attention

Cognitive skills closely relate to movement, which is why focus and memory are also impacted by a retained spinal galant reflex. If this reflex is retained beyond the first year of life, a child can have difficulty remembering information and paying attention, which most often impacts their academic performance. They may also have mood swings and a hard time managing frustration productively, leading to trouble regulating their emotions. Fidgeting and restlessness are also products of a retained spinal galant reflex, and each of these concerns can further impact focus and attention.

Bladder-related challenges

Bladder challenges resulting from a retained spinal galant reflex are closely related to sensory sensitivities. We mentioned earlier that any kind of touch to the back can be difficult for these children to tolerate. This type of sensory input can also trigger concerns with bladder control, potentially leading to bedwetting or daytime accidents well after a child is potty trained.

How Retained Spinal Galant Can Affect Daily Life

Children who display some of the above problems can have difficulty doing many things that other children their age are doing. This can lead to some of the following concerns:

• Trouble socializing with other children
• Difficulty with academic tasks
• Struggles with morning and evening routines, especially those related to dressing and bathing
• Inability to play or engage in other physical activities for long periods of time
• Difficulty getting comfortable when standing in line at the grocery store or sitting in a chair

In the event a child has difficulties in these areas, they can benefit from at least trying some spinal galant reflex integration exercises.

Spinal Galant Reflex Integration Exercises

I will now detail several spinal galant reflex integration exercises for you to practice with your child if they have a retained spinal galant reflex. Remember that these exercises are intended to act as supportive movement strategies. Parents must keep in mind that they are not complete fixes nor can they take the place of traditional treatment if that is what your child is in need of. In addition to these spinal galant reflex exercises, children with retained spinal galant reflexes can use the SoundSory program. This is a non-invasive multi-sensory program that can improve attention, movement, and regulation in people of all ages.

I will go over each of the spinal galant reflex integration exercises, explaining how they help integrate the reflex, the way they work, and what to be on the lookout for as your child completes them.

Symmetrical floor movements

Snow angels

How they help: Snow angels involve similar movements in the arms and legs. This helps quite a bit with coordination and bilateral integration, which are two important sensory skills children should develop.

How to do it:

1. Lie down on the floor on your back.
2. To assume the starting position, keep your legs straight and next to each other with your arms straight against the side of your body.
3. Slowly begin moving your legs out to each side as if you are doing a jumping jack.
4. As you move your legs, also move your arms out to the side and up until they are over your head. Be sure your legs and arms remain in contact with the ground as you do this.
5. Once your legs are fully spread to each side and your arms are touching above your head, slowly move them back to the starting position. Try to move them at the same pace so they reach that position at around the same time.
6. This counts as one full snow angel.
7. Repeat 9 times for a total of 10 repetitions. As you do each snow angel, go through each step without stopping in between.

What to watch for: Watch for the smoothness and pace of your child’s movements, arms moving outward at the same time as the legs and vice versa.

Heel reaches

How they help: Heel reaches involve repeating the same motion on both sides of the body while maintaining a strong and stable core to keep your body flat on the ground. This strengthens your stomach muscles as well as your back muscles, allowing you to move from side to side in a way that many people don’t naturally practice.

How to do it:

1. Lie down on the floor on your back.
2. Bend your knees so that your flat feet rest just under your buttocks.
3. Position your arms straight on each side of your body.
4. While keeping your back flat on the floor, shimmy your left arm down and try to touch your left heel.
5. Once you do this, repeat the same steps with your right arm and right leg.
6. This counts as one heel reach.
7. Repeat 9 times for a total of 10 repetitions. 

What to watch for: Watch for your child’s ability to keep their body flat on the ground as they reach. If at any point their upper body lifts from the ground, have them go back to the start and repeat the motion with their body on the ground.

Core and trunk stability

Chest Hugs

How they help: Chest hugs not only strengthen the core (where your stomach muscles are) but also strengthen the back muscles. This stretches the arms and legs while challenging them to hold one position for gradually longer periods.

How to do it:

1. Lie down on the floor on your back.
2. Stretch both legs out straight below you and both arms out to each side.
3. Bend your knees and bring them in toward your chest.
4. Wrap your arms around your legs.
5. Hold this position for 10 seconds.
6. Repeat four more times for a total of 5 repetitions.

What to watch for: Watch for signs of shaking or trembling in the arms or legs as they move. Watch for potential strain as your child holds their legs in position.

Bumpy surface roll

How they help: Rolling in this position is a great way to work the back and stomach muscles, meaning this can help with postural control. The items on the floor offer an added challenge as the body needs to work a little harder to adjust its position to remain moving in a straight line.

How to do it:

1. Find several soft items to lie on the floor. Some examples include a small rolled-up towel, a few pieces of clothing, a stuffed animal, a pillow, a cushion, a door mat, a small rug, etc. These items can have slight pressure or resistance to them, but should mostly be soft.
2. Lay these items about 1-2 feet apart in a straight line on the floor.
3. Lie on the floor on one end of the items you just arranged. Position your body so that it is straight like a pencil, with arms at your side and legs relaxed below you.
4. Do a log roll in a straight line right over the items on the floor.
5. Continue rolling until you reach the last time.
6. Change directions and roll back over them until you return to your starting position.

What to watch for: Look out for rolling off course, an uneven pace, or excess discomfort when rolling over items.

Quadruped control

Balance Crawl

How they help: The crawling position involves coordination of both the arms and legs while keeping the body off the ground. Adding the item on top of your back encourages you to keep your mid-section as still as possible while moving your extremities to propel you forward. 

How to do it:

1. Get on the floor in the all fours position: palms flat on the ground with bent wrists and straight arms, bent knees supporting the weight of the body.
2. Place a small object that has a little weight to it on your child’s back. Some examples include a small bean bag, an action figure, a toy car, an apple, a banana, etc.
3. Point to a spot across the room and have your child crawl there slowly and steadily, while being sure not to knock the item off.
4. Once your child reaches that spot, have them turn around, reposition their body, and crawl back to their starting position.

What to watch for: Look out for signs of arms or legs shaking, difficulty remaining in the all fours position, moving too quickly or too slowly,or  crawling off to the sides instead of straight ahead.

Fire hydrant

How they help: This encourages strength in a crawling position, especially when your legs move in positions they don’t usually assume. This tests the body’s ability to remain stable even more than regular crawling does.

How to do it:

1. Get on the floor in the all fours position: palms flat on the ground with bent wrists and straight arms, bent knees supporting the weight of the body.
2. Lift your left leg off the ground and to the side, then slowly bring it forward to touch your left elbow.
3. Bring it back and return it to the ground in its original position.
4. Lift your right leg off the ground and to the side, then slowly bring it forward to touch your right elbow.
5. Bring it back and return it to the ground in its original position.
6. This counts as one repetition.
7. Repeat nine more times for a total of 10 repetitions.

What to watch for: Look for signs of arms or legs shaking, difficulty remaining in the all fours position, or moving too quickly or too slowly.

Gentle compression or flexion activities

Spine massage

How they help: This massage immediately targets the back muscles and desensitizes them to light touch, which can be difficult for people with a retained spinal galant reflex.

How to do it:

1. Have your child sit on the floor with their legs underneath them or in front of them.
2. Sit behind them and locate their spine, just as you did to test the spinal galant reflex.
3. Place all of your fingertips on one hand immediately to the right side of the spine.
4. Applying slight pressure, slide your fingers down the length of the back.
5. When you reach the lower back, place all of your fingertips on one hand immediately to the left of the spine.
6. Applying slight pressure, slide your fingers down the length of the back.
7. When you reach the lower back, place all of your fingertips on one hand directly on top of the spine.
8. Applying slight pressure, slide your fingers down the length of the back.
9. When done, use a flat hand to gently (with much less pressure) rub the entire back from side to side and top to bottom.

What to watch for: Look for signs of back tension, shaking, trembling, and discomfort.

Back writing

How they help: This helps desensitize the skin and muscles on the back to touch input. This is also a fun activity that addresses letter and number recognition, memory, and focus.

How to do it:

1. Have your child sit on the floor with their legs underneath them or in front of them.
2. Silently choose a letter or number and don’t say it out loud.
3. Sit behind your child and use your fingertips to trace the figure across the entire back. Make one large figure rather than several small ones.
4. Ask your child to identify what you just drew.
5. Repeat these steps 4 more times for a total of 5 repetitions.

What to watch for: Look for signs of back tension, shaking, trembling, and discomfort.

How Often Should Spinal Galant Exercises Be Practiced?

Professionals usually recommend practicing these spinal galant reflex exercises four to five times each week. This not only helps you get into the routine of completing these exercises on a regular basis but also allows you to complete them with some rest periods in between.

As with any therapeutic exercises, consistency is important to see the most results from spinal galant reflex exercises. You must focus on the quality of the movement rather than speed or the number of repetitions you complete. I note the recommended amount of repetitions as a guideline for you to work toward.

If your child is only able to complete two or three repetitions, but has good posture, form, and follows the instructions precisely, that is okay. Continue at that pace and work on building up the number of repetitions as you go.

Common Mistakes to Avoid During Spinal Galant Integration

Parents must watch for any signs that their child isn’t tolerating the spinal galant reflex exercises well. If your child is struggling to keep up with the pace of the exercises or cannot do them at the recommended weekly intervals, be sure to drop the frequency down.

Do not place pressure on your child, but gently guide them to properly complete the exercises. Ask them how they feel about them and which ones they like the most. If your child shows any signs of overstimulation, stop the exercises immediately. Such signs include an increased heart rate, sweating, rapid breathing, shaking, irritability, and anxiety.

To encourage your child to build and maintain a strong mind-body connection, you can ask your child to pinpoint any feelings of emotional or physical discomfort. If they list off some, encourage them to stop and relax. This helps them learn body awareness, form healthy boundaries, and create a safe space for themselves.

When to Seek Professional Support

If your child develops signs of overstimulation consistently or experiences extreme distress or discomfort as a result of spinal galant reflex exercises, parents should contact professionals. 

Pediatric occupational therapists (OTs) are trained in reflex integration and can help your child build functional skills. Some skills OTs address include, but are not limited to, dressing, handwriting, sustaining attention, and tolerating various types of sensory input. Pediatric physical therapists (PTs) can also assist with reflex integration. However, these professionals are more suited to address concerns related to larger movements such as running, jumping, walking, crawling, hopping, and climbing stairs.

Some children may benefit from both OT and PT. If that is the case, these professionals often work closely together to assist with building your child’s skills over time. If you think these services may be a good fit for your child, mention this to their pediatrician, and they can point you in the right direction.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Spinal Galant Reflex

What age should the spinal galant reflex integrate?

The spinal galant reflex should integrate between 3 and 9 months of age. This reflex usually integrates for most children by around 6 months old.

What age does the spinal galant reflex first appear?

The spinal galant reflex should be present at birth since it first begins developing around 20 weeks of gestation.

Can the spinal galant reflex be retained and not the STNR reflex?

Yes, it is possible for someone to retain the spinal galant reflex and not the STNR reflex. While some children retain multiple primitive reflexes, they are independent of one another.

How long does spinal galant reflex integration usually take?

Spinal galant reflex integration can take several months, as long as exercises are completed consistently and safely.

Do spinal galant and STNR reflex integration require different exercises?

Yes, there are separate exercises recommended for STNR and spinal galant reflex integration since they control different functions.

Should the spinal galant reflex be addressed before ATNR?

There isn’t a particular order to follow when addressing these two reflexes.

Conclusion

The spinal galant reflex controls many critical functions for people of all ages, meaning it can have a major impact on your child’s development. Signs of a retained spinal galant reflex include difficulty focusing, fidgeting/restlessness, poor short-term memory, and low endurance during motor tasks like standing, crawling, running, etc. Children who retain this reflex may also experience bedwetting and other bladder accidents as well as sensory sensitivities – especially related to touch on the back.

When completed consistently, spinal galant reflex exercises can offer a great foundation for integrating this reflex and improving function. Be sure to watch for signs of overt discomfort, such as headaches, sweating, rapid heart rate, fast breathing, irritability, and anxiety. These may indicate a need for support from a pediatric occupational therapist or physical therapist specializing in reflex integration.

Ready to improve your child’s motor skills and sensory function with a non-invasive, evidence-based approach? Try SoundSory today! This multi-sensory program uses music and physical activity to improve coordination and attention, among other skills.

References:

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