HOW TO TEST PALMAR GRASP.

Have your child open their hand (or if too young to follow instructions, then wait until their hand is open or gently open for them), use the end of the paintbrush and make an “x” on the center of their palm with also pressing into bottom of their hand near their thumb pad.

You are wanting to repeat 3x on each hand and observe. You are looking for any closing of the hand, trying to grab your paintbrush automatically and repetitively, or just the tips of the fingers wanting to curl.

The palmar grasp reflex is an involuntary primitive motor reflex that is controlled by the brainstem. It is present during the 11th week in utero and integrated into manual skills and into the whole movement coordination system at the end of the 1st year.

This reflex is responsible for helping with:

Gross hand-motor coordination

Fine motor skills

Lateralization

Basis for hand-eye, hand-mouth, hand-head turning and hand-leg coordination

Hanging on in the sense of preservation

Want to know what symptoms may be present if this reflex does not integrate? Check back for our post tomorrow.