An asymmetrical tonic neck reflex ATNR looks like a baby’s “fencer” pose. Turn the head and the arm and leg on that side straighten while the opposite side bends. Past infancy, that pattern shouldn’t show up during movement. If it does, every head turn can trigger extra firing in the pec and biceps on the turned side, pulling the shoulders forward and feeding poor posture 👀💪 What to watch for. When the head turns, the arms should stay stable without “dropping out.” If flexion kicks in, that li

Have you noticed that your child has poor handwriting or they skip lines frequently when they read? These could be the sign of the asymmetrical tonic neck reflex not being properly integrated! Having this retained reflex can inhibit kiddos from reading and comprehending, riding a bike correctly, or even walking in a straight line! Are you interested in learning more about primitive reflexes and how you can start to help your kids get on the right track? We have free educational resources that yo

This is a reflex test... It's called the Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR). This reflex should normally integrate (go away) by around 6 months of age. If it's still present later, it can affect posture, hand-eye coordination, and even reading and writing skills. You can check this on your child by having them in a "puppy push-up" position, gently turning their head side to side, and watching to see if their arms straighten or bend in response. For more reflex testing examples, DM us the word

This is a reflex test. Have your child walk on the outside edges of their feet. Their arms should swing naturally—just like a typical walk. But if the elbows bend, the wrists rotate inward, or the arms stiffen— That’s not poor posture. That’s a retained primitive reflex. Specifically: ATNR Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex. It should disappear after infancy. If it’s still firing? It can disrupt movement, attention, even emotional regulation. Want to test it further? Walk with toes turned out like a