Vojt's method: benefits for diagnoses? When to use + exercises, points

What is the Vojt method?
When is reflex locomotion relevant?
What exercises and trigger points does it use?
Does it have negatives?
Can it be used in adults and in what cases?

The discoverer of the Vojta Method is Prof. Václav Vojta, M.D., after whom it takes its name.

This Czech paediatric neurologist worked at the University Orthopaedic Clinic in Cologne and later began working at the Children's Centre in Munich, where he developed the reflex locomotion method.

After returning to Prague, he continuously developed this diagnostic and therapeutic system.

The foundations of the Vojta principle were laid while working with paralyzed children.

During his practice in Germany, he worked with paralysed child patients (patients with cerebral-cerebral paresis). It was then that he noticed that infaustic spasticity was only a functional blockage in the development of motor skills.

By observation, he found that certain movement patterns, which are innate and possessed by every individual, emerge more intensely and in ever more coherent units by their constant repetition.

In the beginning they are not very visible because they are only activated to a certain extent. This can be changed with time and practice.

By patient work with the child and repeated stimuli in different positions, he was able to elicit these unconscious motor reactions. The movements were most noticeable on the child's trunk and limbs.

What positives did Vojta observe during his observations?

1. improvement in speech skills
2. more confident verticalization
3. improved motor function

Vojta's method is used in the treatment, but also in the early diagnosis of movement disorders

This unrivalled method has an irreplaceable place not only in the treatment of movement disorders, but also in their early diagnosis.

It is still used and is considered a unique form of diagnosis of mobility and posture disorders. Its abnormalities can be detected as early as six months of life. This allows for the initiation of early therapy and a better prognosis.

The diagnosis itself is based on the realistic assumption of innate movement patterns that are genetically encoded in each individual. Already in the newborn they manifest themselves to some extent as uncoordinated movements of the body and limbs, which gradually become coordinated and purposeful.

What exactly is it and how does this method actually work?

The basic principles of the Vojta method

The Vojt Method is a diagnostic and therapeutic method used for the early diagnosis and treatment of motor disorders.

It works on the principle of reflex locomotion.

By reflex locomotion we mean any automatic movement that is encoded in our central nervous system. Vojta considered this automatism and innate movement patterns as a kind of "basic building blocks" (turning, lifting, grasping objects, climbing, walking).

• REFLEX ⇒ also an ongoing response to a particular stimulus
• LOComotion ⇒ forward movement

These movement patterns are automatic in healthy children, but not in children with cerebral spasticity (cerebral palsy) for various reasons.

Vojta believed, and later proved, that even in sick children with motor impairment it is possible to activate the central nervous system by repeated exercises and then to transfer these functions encoded in the central nervous system into spontaneous motor activity.

In simple terms, this means that by regularly practising a movement stereotype (e.g. climbing), automaticity can be achieved. Completely new learned movement patterns can even be created.

Interesting:
The Vojt method is now used in many countries where there is positive experience with it.

This includes, of course, the Czech Republic and Germany.
It is also used in Austria, Poland, Romania, Norway, Sweden, France, Spain, Italy, but also in Chile, Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Korea, Japan, Taiwan and India.

How to activate reflex locomotion?

The activation of reflex locomotion is based on the irritation of the so-called activation zones.

Irritation in this case means applying pressure or traction to these zones. This is achieved by positioning the child.

The positioning itself is complemented by the angular alignment of the trunk and limbs, which causes pressure or traction on the joints. This creates resistance to movement, which paradoxically evokes movement and helps to activate the muscle groups correctly, with its subsequent extension to the whole body.

Interesting:
The degree of pressure and use of activation zones increases in direct proportion to the severity of a particular ailment!

Pressure and thrust to activate locomotion is achieved from three basic positions of the child:

1. the supine position on the tummy
2. supine position
3. prone position

Table with activation zones, points

The whole principle of this method is based on two basic movements, namely crawling and turning. These movements are automatic for healthy children. For sick children we have to help them.

Reflex crawling is achieved from the baby's starting position lying on the tummy.

In this position, the head is turned to one side. The upper limb, which is closer to the face, is placed slightly higher than the limb on the opposite side. The lower limbs are extrarotated at the hip joint (turned outwards) and slightly bent at the knees.

This position provokes alternating movement of the upper limbs and also rotation of the head to the opposite side and back.

When rotating the head, the palm of the hand should be used to resist the movement, which helps to activate the muscles. At the same time, leaning on one upper and the opposite lower limb results in a slight lifting of the trunk, which corresponds to the movement when crawling.

This seemingly trivial exercise helps to activate not individual muscles, but even muscle groups throughout the body. It is an important prerequisite for crawling and further uprightness and later walking. It also helps grasping objects.

Reflexive turning is achieved from the baby's starting position lying on its back or on its side, which it also occupies during turning.

The baby is lying on its back and the head is turned slightly to the side.

For more severe diagnoses, the head rotation, which may not correspond to the initial position of the head in the beginning, should be gradually practised. The limbs are next to the body in different positions depending on the age (newborn babies have them slightly bent, older babies have their lower limbs stretched straight).

The second position is on the side, with the upper and lower limbs resting on the mat for support.

During turning, the upper and lower limbs above are responsible for support and stability of the body. This position is an important prerequisite for walking on all fours.

Who can you contact for training?

Important information:
The above information on activation of reflex locomotion is general and purely informative.
Although the parent is a vital link in the regression (improvement) of their child's condition, they should only perform these exercises in the home environment after prior consultation and training by a doctor or Vojta physiotherapist.

The International Vojta Society (IVG) was founded in 1984 in Munich by Vaclav Vojta himself. It was an association of qualified personnel within the framework of Vojta therapy.

The society still exists today and is involved, among other things, in the training of other physiotherapists and doctors. These are then competent to train parents (lay people) to practice the therapy at home.

The huge advantage is not only its effectiveness but also its low cost. It can be carried out after training in the home environment.

Courses have been held regularly for several years in the Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Poland, Romania, Norway, Spain, Thailand, Chile, Japan and Korea. The most recent ones have started to train doctors from France, Italy, Colombia and Taiwan.

What must not be forgotten during treatment?

An important aspect of treatment is not only the child-physiotherapist relationship, but also the physiotherapist-parent relationship. The latter can influence treatment.

The therapy itself and its duration is individual. In some cases, it lasts for years, so good relationships are a must. In a good environment, treatment is easier.

Therapy must be precise. Therefore, anyone who practices it must be an expert or at least trained by an expert.

The therapist develops a precise plan for the patient based on the severity of his/her diagnosis. Exercises should be completed as scheduled without skipping, for the duration that is prescribed for the patient.

As described in the introduction, activation of locomotion occurs with regular repetition and patience.

Contraindications to the Vojt Method:

• febrile illnesses
• inflammatory diseases
• within 10 days after vaccination
• cardiac diseases
• osteogenesis
• pregnancy

Interesting:
The Vojt method was reviewed by experts to see if it had a negative impact on the patient's psyche and further psychological development. The opposite was true.
Not only does it have no negative effects, but it even has a positive impact on the patient's psyche and experience.

The effects of Vojta therapy - when is it appropriate?

This miraculous, yet so simple treatment has a wide range of applications. It is primarily aimed at paediatric patients, but is also used by adult patients with a wide variety of diagnoses.

In children, it is most often used for paresis caused by cerebral palsy or other neurodegenerative process. Adults turn to it for traumatic paralysis or after strokes.

List of positive effects in some diagnoses:

• cerebral paresis/obrasions
• central coordination disorders
• muscle disorders such as myasthenia gravis
• respiratory and masticatory muscle problems
• strokes
• multiple sclerosis
• hip dysplasia and luxation
• scoliosis of the spine
• peripheral paralysis of the upper and lower limbs (paresis of the plexus, transverse spinal cord lesions)
• traumatic injuries

In which childhood conditions is it recommended?What does professional experience say?

The Vojt method is mainly applied to children with cerebral palsy (CP). It is a disease of the central nervous system leading to mobility disorders. It is caused by congenital developmental defects of the brain or its damage in the prenatal period (maternal dependence on alcohol, drugs, medications, prenatal infections, abdominal injuries, etc.).

Already in the neonatal period, differences in the abnormal tone of the muscles (hypotonia/hypertonia) and in the child's response to stimuli (stroking, kissing, touching), which are minimal, are noticeable.

Later on, parents notice weakness of facial expressions, gesticulation, impaired speech development. Difficulty in biting food, impaired speech and movements are typical.

Visual and hearing impairments may seem atypical.

However, children with these disorders usually have motor problems. Visually impaired pediatric patients have a lack of visual stimuli and deaf children have a lack of auditory stimuli.

This causes weaker CNS activity.

Blind patients have some respect for certain movements, such as climbing. As a rule, they move by sliding on their buttocks. Walking tends to be cautious, slower with avoidance of objects.

The Vojta method can also be used for other brain disorders such as mental retardation, ADHD or pervasive developmental disorders.

Can adult patients also use it?

The Vojta Method originated in work with children. It is very often used with them, but it is not only for them. It also has positive effects in adults for various conditions with motor disorders.

A good example of this is stroke, in which an artery in the brain is blocked by a clot and a part of the brain is not oxygenated. It is manifested by visual disturbances, speech disorders, paralysis of half of the facial muscles, paralysis of the muscles of the limbs on one side and vegetative symptoms.

Paralysis after injuries or traffic accidents can also be significantly improved by exercises according to this method.

It is little used, but is also effective for back disorders such as scoliosis.