What is the Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex ( ATNR )?
In utero, the Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex helps facilitate kicking movements of the fetus felt by the mother.
When fully emerged in utero, the ATNR supports the fetus in twisting and turning down the birth canal. When the baby turns their head to the side, the arm and leg will straighten on the same side.
This reflex is also referred to as the “fencer position”. As the ATNR integrates, the movements of the infant on the stomach and the back help to train binocular vision (the cooperation of both eyes) and the ability to track moving objects with his eyes.
A nonintegrated ATNR beyond four to six months can interfere with other developmental motor abilities, such as rolling over, commando-style tummy crawling, and crawling on all fours.
The symptoms of the Asymmetrical Tonic Neck reflex
Crawling in fluent cross-patterned movements is more complicated when the ATNR reflex is not integrated.
In school, the ATNR plays a significant role in the learning process and in creating more hemispheric brain dominance. It helps to establish cross lateral motor coordination across the physical midline, as well as, active coordination of the visual and auditory systems.
The ATNR is also important for writing, as it assists with the motors skills of the arms, shoulders and neck in order for fine motor skills to be efficient.
Some symptoms of a non-integrated ATNR
- Difficulty crawling in cross-patterned movements
- One sided (robot like movement) rather than cross lateral walking
- Problems bringing arms to midline (catching balls)
- Difficulty with eye tracking, eye-hand coordination
- Difficulty with reading, writing, listening and comprehension; dyslexia
- Poor handwriting and difficulty fluently expressing ideas when writing
- Inefficient motor skills of the arms, shoulders and neck (e.g. riding a bike)
- Mixed or confused handedness is common
- They may turn the books at weird angles to make reading and writing easier.
- Insecure balance
- Possible scoliosis
- Associated sensory systems: auditory, vestibular, visual, and proprioceptive
Exercises to help the brain developing the Asymmetrical Tonic Neck reflex
Exercise One - Supine Exercise
Have child face up on the floor with head turned to the same side as the arm and leg which is
straightened. The opposite side arm and leg should be bent. Hold this position for a few
Slowly turn head to other side. Switching positions of the limbs. Straightening, bent arm and
leg, and bending the straight arm and leg, hold for a few seconds.
Repeat 10-15 times each side. Twice daily.
Exercise Two - Bear Walk
Exercise Three - Lizards
Have child face down on the floor with head turned to one side and the same arm and leg
bent, palm down. The opposite arm and leg are straight, the arm lying along the body. Slowly
turn head to other side. Slowly straighten bent limbs and hold straight for a few seconds.
Slowly bend limbs on the side which head is turned and hold for a few seconds.
Repeat 10-15 times. Twice Daily
Exercise Four - Marching
Have child march on the spot with arms extended in front of them, sometimes children are
unable to hold up their arms independently in this case hold their arms up against a wall
and ask them to have their eyes closed.
Exercise Five - Head turns
Ask child to go on all fours with eyes open/closed holding their body and spine straight.
Keeping still as possible. Ask them to fully turn the head to the right and then to the left,
keeping the arms straight, holding head to each side for a count of 5.
Repeat 10-15 times. Twice daily
Exercise Six - Bow And Arrow
Have child sit cross legged on chair with arms crossed too.
Ask the child to turn head to the side while straightening the same arm to the side as if drawing
a bow and lifting the same leg with a straight knee up off the floor, to the same side.
Hold for a few seconds then return to midline, where child will be cross armed and cross
legged. Repeat on the other side.
Repeat 10 times to each side. Twice daily.
Variation: Bow and Arrow can be done on a Swiss/Gym ball