This book was referenced on the CVASPS podcast, which caught my attention on application of spatial and visual skill development for motor learning. 

Back story of this book is definitely centered on the concept that neurological issues with kids such as ADD, ADHD, Dyslexia, Autism, or general social problems. The premise is that symptoms can be alleviated with development of their reflexive motor systems. As a father of two, looking at them and the inevitable intersection with pharmaceuticals, vaccines, diagnosis is personal to me. 

Just as much we want what is best for our kids, we also want what is best for our athletes. I cannot tell you how many times something has come up in my career that I had to conclude was unexplainable. At the time I probably gave my take on what was going on, but it was a guess at best. There is definitely a moment when things cross over into the spiritual or emotional side of things. This realization definitely helps try to understand what is going on with the unexplainable. 

My personal crossover to appreciating motor learning was more than what I currently understood was with resources such as Original Strength (Tim Anderson) and Muscles and Meridians (Phillip Beach). Tying this together with DNS principles which were foundational for the Functional Movement System, gives a healthy foundation to understand the reflexive motor learning system from birth to locomotion is critical to appreciate when working with athletes. 

We have heard countless anecdotes of Movement is Medicine or Let Food Be Thy Medicine. There is a romanticized aspect of us being health practitioners that we have known all along this panacea of health through good nutrition and good movement. There can easily be a healthy skepticism associated with us having the answers to questions that the most intelligent physicians have yet to find a solution on. 

The book is extremely in depth into neural development throughout a life cycle. The reflexive pathways we have ingrained into our reptilian motor system which include the cerebellum and brainstem are incredibly complex and deeply rooted in our consciousness. The fact that we learn how to speak and move basically on instinct is enough evidence that we are hardwired to progress in a certain order. If that order is disrupted by outside influences, that has a concentric circle leading to disrupted function later in life. 

My advice would be to read the above mentioned books and learn to appreciate that what we think we know is unfathomably small. As Gray Cook said “the best cue is the one where you say nothing at all”. Take this to the extreme opposite end of the spectrum we can see with Frans Boch’s work  Strength training and coordination: an integrative approach that if we place people in more challenging environments the motor pattern will find a solution. This to me translates with everyone of our clients, athletes, children we need to find the appropriate level of constraints and let the movement occur as it should.