has anyone heard of body brushing

[sneezecake]

I know it is usually used with asd, and hypo/hyper sensory issues.
but was wondering if it would help with ds pushing back/going rigid (baby reflex)which is breaking my arm doing my head in hampering his development, as everytime we are working on his sitting, he gets excited and just throws himself back. I know its a matter of development, like his stepping reflex (which seems to be finally going)
or any other suggestion which could help this

If this is what I think it is, then they do it as my ds's school once per week. They put on calming music and brush the kids' skin with various objects (usually soft objects). I think it is helpful to kids who are sensory defensive but not totally sure as my ds is not...but he is very sensory seeking.

I don't know a lot about it but I believe there are techniques that you can use on young kids to help them overcome baby reflexes...sorry not much help but there are books available (saw one once, a friend's teenage ds had reflex issues and after some professional therapy, his development progressed and he lost the baby responses).

It's one of a range of touch therapies that work on (for example) quite a number of us on the autism spectrum. Much research on the use of safe and appropriate touch and physical contact, which has been shown to reduce stress, improve concentration, give us a better sense of where our bodies are in relation to other things, and reduce sensory defensiveness. Definitely to be recommended, from personal experience.

I don't know about body brushing but would like to know if you find an answer to this as my DS does the same thing - can sit quite happily for a little bit and then suddenly without any warning flings himself back so quickly it is scary!

if you find a sensory trained OT they may be able to give you exercises which will also help to integrate retained reflexes.

would also recommend 'therapeutic listening' programme whihc seemed to really help as well.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/special_needs/892106-retained-reflexes-and-proprioceptive-exercises-help -pls

this was from a few days ago...

A family i knew used it on their 2 DD (nt) aged 5&7 as they had retained reflexes and it was hindering their learning at school, it was amazing in just a year they progressed rapidly from the lowest groups in maths/written english/reading to the top groups. They also became more 'mellow', slept better and their range of foods increased.

it all sounds really interesting I will look further into it.
badkitty how is your ds doing have been wondering for ages

He is ok thanks - 13 months now your ds is a couple of months older isn't he? He got formally "diagnosed" with quad cp in our last meeting with consultant in December - the nice consultant was obviously v.v. nervous about telling us and we were just like, um yep we know! He is improving with his fine motor skills (they are still poor, but great for him) and we think he is trying to say a few words ("again", mostly), however gross motor seems to have stalled for ages now, prob for reasons similar to your DS in that we can't get over the flinging himself back - like you, it does my head in!! CAT me direct if you want to chat - sounds like our boys are quite similar!

yes will sort it out and do that