# Primitive Reflex Integration Case Studies

##  Back Pain Relief for Mom

   May 15, 2024

## Chronic pain, stress, and fatigue: huge improvements after rhythmic movements.

This woman's back pain was so severe that she was planning on having surgery. She also experienced tight neck and shoulder muscles, a tense grip while driving, and emotional dysregulation. After 2 months of rhythmic movements and reflex integration from the [Brain and Sensory Foundations program](https://moveplaythrive.com/index.php?Itemid=362 "Reflex integration and rhythmic movement training CEU course"), she had great improvements in all of these areas, including an 80% reduction in her back pain.

*Submitted by C.D.*

![Woman and therapist doing neurodevelopmental movement. Text: Back pain relief for Mom.](https://moveplaythrive.com/images/2023_Case_Studies/CS_CD_SELF.webp)

 | Before | After |
|---|---|
| Severe back pain — doctors recommended surgery | Extreme decrease in back pain — no more need for surgery |
| Tense grip made driving stressful and tiring | Stress and fatigue from driving greatly diminished |

I suffered from both emotional and physical ailments. On the emotional side, I experienced high levels of sudden-onset emotional dis-regulation, high levels of stress, among other things. Physically I had extraordinarily severe, debilitating lower back pain and vertigo (plus lifelong motion sickness), constant and severe shoulder and neck tension and pain, and I held a pencil with a crazy-hard-death-grip. After testing my own reflexes, I realized that I had many, many unintegrated reflexes. This all made logical sense to me as I was in an incubator for a couple weeks after I was born, I was only 4.5 lbs at birth (a twin).

Although the bulk of my attention has been to my son, and because I have nobody to do the reflex integration on me, I’ve only been able to do a few things consistently: rhythmic movement and hand integration \[from the [Brain and Sensory Foundation program](https://moveplaythrive.com/index.php?Itemid=362 "Inspiring and effective, primitive reflex integration CEU course")\]. But with both of these two things, I have had amazing improvement.

**"By doing the rhythmic movement daily over the course of 2 months, I found that my back pain is 80% better."**

Before I started the rhythmic movement I was told that I needed surgery, and I knew they were right because I was in pain 24 hours a day. After the rhythmic movement, my pain is 80% gone … it only bothers me when I’ve been sitting for a prolonged time or I lift something heavy. I am at a point now when I don’t need to think about surgery!

I also found out that holding my steering wheel was triggering my hand reflexes. I found that as soon as I gripped the wheel my arms automatically straightened and locked, and the muscles of my entire neck and shoulder and arms were permanently tightened. I spend 10+ hours a week driving my son, and during that time he needs to do his homework in the back of the car. I found that I was responding to him with high levels of impatience, stress, and anger as a result of my hand reflexes being constantly triggered. Once I started the hand reflexes, I found my stress and fatigue from driving greatly diminished, and my emotions better regulated.

\[Edited for length and clarity; emphasis added\]

- [ Anxiety ](https://moveplaythrive.com/case-studies-conditions/anxiety)
- [ Pain Relief ](https://moveplaythrive.com/case-studies-conditions/pain-relief)
- [ Teens & Adults ](https://moveplaythrive.com/case-studies-conditions/teens-and-adults)
- [ Social-Emotional Regulation ](https://moveplaythrive.com/case-studies-conditions/social-emotional-regulation)