Rhythmic Movement Training (RMT) includes specific rhythmic movements which imitate instinctual baby movements, to stimulate new connections being made in the brain in order to help the brain and nervous system mature and integrate primitive infant reflexes. RMT orginated in Stockholm, Sweden by Kerstin Linde in the 1970s when she began using movements with a rhythmic element for people with developmental and movement challenges. Kerstin Linde devised a series of movements based on what infants typically instinctively do in the first few months of life to integrate their primitive reflexes. Integrating primitive reflexes through these instinctual baby movements is found to lay critical foundations in the nervous system such as related to development, learning, coordination, behaviour, posture, regulation of emotions, etc. This rhythmic movement program was further developed by psychiatrist Dr. Blomberg, MD, of Stockholm, Sweden who noticed that these movements had a positive impact on social, emotional and cognitive functions of his patients; he studied with other leading specialists in neuro-development to understand why and used this work in his psychiatric practice for many years. Dr. Blomberg developed a formal program including rhythmic movements. The movements included in the program are similar to the movements which a baby uses to integrate his or her infant reflexes. He currently teaches this work under his organization called Blomberg Rhythmic Movement Training (BRMT). This rhythmic movement program was also further developed by Moira Dempsey who has expanded theory and movement manuals and continues to teach this work around the world. Moira founded the organization called Rhythmic Movement Training International (RMTi)

1. RMT
(Rhythmic Movement Training0
By
Reena Singh
(Licensed Provider)

2. Origins
 RMT is based on the work of Kerstin Linde, a Swedish
movement training specialist, who developed movements
based on her observations of how infants are meant to move.
 Dr Harald Bloomberg, a Swedish psychiatrist, met Kerstin in
the mid-1980s and started to use the movements with his
patients and found that they had profound effects.

3. Rhythmic Movement training
 Rhythmic Movement Training (RMT) explores the role
of babies’ natural developmental movements during
various stages of development:
• Before birth
• The first six months after birth
• As they get up on their hands and knees
• As they learn to walk
 These movements are crucial for laying down the
foundations of neural network pathway growth and
myelination in the brain. They are also important for
establishing head control, muscle tone and posture, the
basis of our ability to move through life with ease and
choice.

4. What are primitive reflexes

5. So why don’t the reflexes get
integrated?
 Stress of the mother and/or baby during pregnancy;
breech birth, birth trauma, caesarean birth, induced
birth
 Lack of proper movement in infancy: being placed in
baby walkers/rings, jumpers, being left for long periods
of time in car seats/baby capsules, and being placed in
front of TV in bouncers all restrict critical movements
required for brain development
 Illness, trauma, injury, chronic stress
 Environmental toxins, complications with vaccinations
 Dietary imbalances or sensitivities
 Reflexes that are inhibited and integrated in infancy can
later reactivate because of trauma, injury, toxins and
stress

6. Moro Reflex
 Easily triggered, reacts in anger or emotional outburst
 Poor balance and coordination
 Poor stamina
 Poor digestion, tendency towards hypoglycaemia
 Weak immune system, asthma, allergies and infections
 Hypersensitivity to light, movement, sound, touch &
smell
 Vision/reading/writing difficulties
 Difficulty adapting to change
 Cycles of hyperactivity and extreme fatigue

7. Some passive movements
 Passive from feet
 Ribcage rocking
 Passive rolling of the bottom

8. FPR (Fear Paralysis Reflex)
 Shallow, difficult breathing
 Underlying anxiety or negativity
 Insecure, low self-esteem
 Depression/isolation/withdrawal
 Constant feelings of overwhelm
 Extreme shyness, fear in groups
 Excessive fear of embarrassment
 Fear of separation from a loved one, clinging
 Sleep & eating disorders
 Feeling stuck
 Elective mutism
 Withdrawal from touch
 Extreme fear of failure, perfectionism
 Phobias
 Aggressive or controlling behaviour, craves attention
 Low tolerance to stress

9. Pre birth movements
 Side to side legs
 Cross legs
 Frog legs

10. Other reflexes worked
 STNR
 Landau reflex
 Spinal galant reflex
 Amphibian reflex
 Babinski
 ATNR
 Tendon guard reflex
 HRR
 Hand mouth Babkin

11. How long to see any changes doing RMT?
Positive changes are often noticed within two weeks,
especially when the movements are done every day;
however, every individual is different and responds in unique
ways to the movements. Some experience profound, positive
changes immediately. Others experience changes that are
more gradual and subtle.

12. How long do I have to do the movements ?
Often we start at 2 or 3 minutes a day and work up to about
15 minutes a day, which can be spread over 2 or 3 sessions a
day if necessary

13. How many months for the programme?
 While positive change can be seen in a short
period of time, to further develop and reinforce the
changes it is not unusual to follow the programme
for a year or more.

14. Are there any side effects to RMT?
 As with all movement based programmes there can a
number of short term physical and emotional responses
as the body releases toxins and muscle tension. These
include things such as nausea, coughing up mucus, flu-
type symptoms, headaches, colds, diarrhea, fever and
rashes.
 On an emotional level there can be periods of defiance,
anger, irritation, depression, nightmares, and clinging.
Though this may be challenging, it is actually a good
sign that emotional processing is occurring and the
brain is maturing. This time is usually brief and passes
as integration occurs. It is important that the
movements be continued through this stage, though it
may be helpful to reduce the amount of time the
movements are done every day.

15. When do I change movements?
Some kids may need a change in exercises every
15 days whereas some other kids need to change
them every month depending on how the child
responds to the exercises.

16. Can I do RMT with other therapies?
 RMT can be combined with other therapies .

17. Can I do the movements with someone with
Down’s syndrome?
 Yes.
 However if there is an instability between the top two vertebrae we
do not use any movements that move the head and neck.

18. Is RMT safe to do for people with seizure
disorders?
 We often see a reduction in the rate of seizures for those doing the
rhythmic movements consistently. However, there are many factors
in our modern society that may contribute to brain inflammation and
the prevalence of seizures.
 Seizures may be triggered by electromagnetic radiation, intolerance
to gluten and dairy, accumulation of glutamate in the brain, and food
additives such as monosodium glutamate and aspartame.* Because
movement has a stimulatory effect on the brain, if an individual is
already influenced by one or more of these factors, he or she may
be more likely to experience a seizure by doing movement.
 For this reason, it is important that those with already known seizure
disorders or other challenges, such as vestibular sensitivity, autism,
and sensory-motor handicaps, begin doing Rhythmic Movements
with close observation. In these cases RMT should be done in small
amounts, with very gradual increases in the amount of movement
done at one time.
 Be sure to tell your RMT provider if you or your child has any of the
above mentioned challenges

19. Questions !!!!