Positive Support Reflex Flashcards

Positive Support Reflex Overview

• Positive support onset occurs at 35 weeks gestation, marking the beginning of this reflex.
• Integration of positive support typically happens between 1-2 months, after which the reflex no longer dominates movements.

Positive Support Position

• The positive support reflex enables infants to be supported in a vertical position, which is crucial for later motor development.

Positive Support Procedure and Response

• Procedure: When testing this reflex, allow the infant's feet to make firm contact with a surface like the floor or table.
• Response: The expected reaction is the simultaneous contraction of both flexor and extensor muscles in the lower extremities, enabling partial weight support while the hips and knees remain flexed.

Functional Significance

• The positive support reflex is a prerequisite for the spontaneous stepping reflex.
• It plays a critical role in developing skills related to standing, walking, balance reactions, and weight shifting while standing.
• Prolonged retention of this reflex can lead to contractures of the ankles in a plantarflexed position, potentially hindering further motor development.