Rhythmic Movement Therapy (RMT): How Early Movements Shape Brains, Bodies and Behaviour
If someone told you that some of the most powerful tools for supporting learning, emotional balance and development were the same movements babies naturally make in the first months of life… would you believe them?
Welcome to Rhythmic Movement Therapy (RMT)—a gentle, movement-based approach that taps into the body’s earliest wiring system to improve posture, emotional regulation, sensory processing, and access to learning.
And yes—this applies to children and adults, including those with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia and more.
Let’s explore how it works, why it matters, and what it could mean for your child or for you.
What Exactly Is Rhythmic Movement Therapy (RMT)?
Rhythmic Movement Therapy (RMT) is a reflex integration programme. That means it uses simple movements that mimic the natural patterns babies make before and after birth—those instinctive wiggles, stretches, kicks and rolls.
These early movements help build the foundations for:
- posture
- central nervous system (CNS) maturity
- the vestibular system (balance and spatial awareness)
- sensory processing
- emotional stability
- memory and learning
- and behavioural self-regulation
RMT uses these early movement patterns to rebuild or strengthen neurological foundations when development has been disrupted, delayed, or stressed.
Where Did RMT Come From? A Fascinating Beginning
RMT has a surprisingly creative origin story.
The first movements were designed by Kerstin Linde, a Swedish self-taught therapist who used her skills as a photographer to observe how infants naturally move. She noticed that babies follow a rhythm—uncoordinated, jerky movements gradually become smooth, controlled and beautifully rhythmic.
She developed a method called Rhythmic Movement Pedagogy, later renamed Harmony Doctrine.
A Psychiatrist’s Discovery
In the mid-1980s, psychiatrist Dr Harald Blomberg—who had ongoing physical effects from childhood polio—visited Linde for help. After experiencing profound improvements in his coordination and stability, he became deeply interested in the role of early reflexes in neurological development.
He began using her movements with his psychiatric patients with excellent results.
A Global Framework Emerges
In 2003, Moira Dempsey, a teacher and kinesiologist, met Dr Blomberg while working with children with special needs. She had already spent years studying movement and reflex development and immediately recognised the transformative potential of this work.
Moira believed (as many clinicians and Caroline does today) that:
Challenges don’t define us—our nervous system can change when we’re given the right developmental experiences.
She went on to co-found Rhythmic Movement Training International (RMTi) to create a consistent, teachable framework for practitioners worldwide.
Why Reflexes Matter: The Foundation We All Develop From
“Primitive reflexes” are the automatic movement responses babies are born with—or develop in the womb.
They help us survive, grow, and learn.
But here’s the key:
Reflexes should integrate.
This means they move into the brainstem and only activate when needed.
If they don’t integrate, or they switch back on later because of stress or trauma…
…they can affect:
- focus
- emotions
- posture
- learning
- behaviour
- sensory processing
- coordination
This is important because many children (and adults) develop compensations to work around unintegrated reflexes—compensations that often show up later as:
- anxiety
- ADHD-like behaviours
- dyslexia
- dyspraxia
- sensory overload
- and sometimes diagnostic labels such as autism
RMT aims to gently re-create the movements that first formed those reflexes, allowing them to reintegrate into the nervous system in a safe and supported way.
A Closer Look at the Primitive Reflexes
Below is an overview of the major reflexes RMT works with and the potential long-term effects when they remain active.
Fear Paralysis Reflex (FPR)
Emerges in the embryonic stage. It is a full-body withdrawal response.
If not integrated, it may contribute to:
- anxiety
- low self-esteem
- overwhelm
- extreme shyness
- sleep or eating challenges
- perfectionism
- elective mutism
- panic, phobias, or withdrawal
- difficulty with touch
- clinging behaviour
- fear of failure
- low stress tolerance
- controlling or aggressive behaviour
Often FPR is linked with an unintegrated Moro Reflex.
Moro Reflex (Startle Reflex)
Triggered by sudden sensory changes.
If unintegrated, a child or adult may experience:
- emotional outbursts
- sensory hypersensitivity
- weak immune function
- reading/writing difficulties
- poor balance
- poor stamina
- difficulties adapting to change
- cycles of hyperactivity and exhaustion
- digestive issues
Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex (TLR)
Helps babies learn about gravity, muscle tone and head control.
Unintegrated TLR may cause:
- hunched posture
- poor balance
- fatigue
- difficulty judging distance or space
- jerky movement
- toe walking
- challenges with stairs
- visual or auditory processing issues
Asymmetric Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR)
Supports one-sided movement and early hand-eye coordination.
If active beyond 6 months, it may contribute to:
- dyslexia
- writing or spelling difficulties
- challenges with maths
- confused handedness
- reading and listening difficulties
Symmetric Tonic Neck Reflex (STNR)
A transitional reflex that moves a child from lying to crawling.
If unintegrated, a child may experience:
- poor posture
- headaches
- trouble sitting still
- difficulty with reading or writing
- “W-sitting”
- vision challenges
- difficulty copying from the board
- ape-like walking
Spinal Galant Reflex
Assists in birth, crawling and creeping.
If retained, it may contribute to:
- bedwetting
- fidgeting or hyperactivity
- poor concentration
- scoliosis or hip rotation
- poor endurance
- poor posture or coordination
- attention difficulties
- short-term memory issues
Hand, Foot and Oral Reflexes
Include: Babinski, Plantar, Palmar, Hands Pulling, Grasp, Amphibian, Rooting, Suck and Babkin reflexes.
If unintegrated, they may contribute to:
- speech delays
- swallowing issues
- dribbling
- poor pencil grip
- handwriting difficulties
- weak ankles
- toe walking
- challenges expressing ideas in writing
- poor manual dexterity
So How Does RMT Help?
RMT uses gentle, rhythmic movements—many of which feel calming or soothing—to:
- Integrate overactive or retained reflexes
- Rebuild neurological foundations
- Improve sensory processing
- Strengthen emotional regulation
- Support access to learning
- Reduce stress in the nervous system
Movements can be:
- Passive – facilitated by a parent, carer or practitioner
- Active – learned and done independently
And the best part?
They take only a minute or two a day.
Less is more.
Forcing the movements increases stress and reduces progress.
This makes RMT accessible, kind, and supportive for even the most sensitive children.
Who Can RMT Help?
RMT is used with children and adults with a wide range of challenges and labels, including:
- Autism
- ADHD
- Dyslexia
- Dyspraxia
- Developmental delays
- Sensory processing differences
- PTSD (where reflexes can become reactivated)
It is not about “fixing” anyone.
It is about strengthening the foundations of safety, regulation and neurological readiness so learning, communication and wellbeing become more accessible.
Thinking You Recognise Some of These Signs?
Many parents reading about unintegrated reflexes suddenly recognise pieces of their child’s (or their own) story.
If that’s you—you’re not alone, and you’re not imagining it.
An RMTi Consultant can assess reflex activity and guide you through the movements that support integration and development.
Work With a Trained RMTi Consultant
Caroline is a fully trained, accredited and licensed Rhythmic Movement Training International Consultant and is listed on the official RMTi website.
If you’d like to explore whether RMT may support you or your child, you’re warmly invited to book a free 30-minute consultation.