The Motor Nervous System & Your Child’s Development: Why Every Milestone Matters
Movement is a child’s first language. From rolling over to crawling and eventually walking, every motor milestone is a critical piece of brain and nervous system development. The motor nervous system is responsible for controlling these movements, and when it’s not functioning properly, children may experience delays, poor coordination, and even behavioral challenges.
Many parents focus on whether their child is hitting milestones “on time,” but few understand the deeper impact of skipping or altering milestones on brain development. Let’s explore the motor nervous system, why movement is essential for neurological growth, and how chiropractic care helps ensure proper development.
What is the Motor Nervous System?
The motor nervous system is responsible for movement, posture, and coordination. It’s divided into two main parts:
The Somatic Nervous System: Controls voluntary movements like crawling, walking, and holding objects.
The Autonomic Nervous System: Helps regulate involuntary muscle movements, such as those in digestion and circulation.
Proper motor function requires clear communication between the brain, spinal cord, and muscles. When this system is functioning optimally, children develop strong movement patterns that support cognitive function, balance, and coordination.
Motor Milestones: The Foundation for Brain Development
Each motor milestone serves a purpose beyond just movement—it helps wire the brain for future learning, behavior, and coordination. Some key motor milestones include:
Tummy Time → Strengthens neck and back muscles, preps the body for crawling
Rolling Over → Stimulates spinal and brain development, integrates primitive reflexes
Crawling → Essential for brain hemispheric integration, balance, and coordination
Standing & Walking → Builds postural control, stability, and confidence
Skipping or modifying these milestones—such as going straight to walking without crawling—can result in weaker neurological connections, poor coordination, and even learning or behavioral struggles later in life.
What Happens When Motor Development is Disrupted?
When a child skips a milestone or struggles with movement, it often indicates neurological stress or imbalance. The nervous system controls muscle tone, balance, and coordination, and when it’s under stress, these functions can become impaired.
Low Muscle Tone (Hypotonia): Appears as floppy, weak, or uncoordinated movement.
High Muscle Tone (Hypertonia): Causes stiffness, rigidity, and difficulty with fluid movement.
These tone imbalances are neurological in nature, meaning the nervous system is either not properly activating the muscles (low tone) or over-firing signals (high tone).
Motor dysfunction doesn’t just affect movement—it impacts a child’s ability to focus, process information, and engage with their environment.
How Chiropractic Care Supports Motor Development
The nervous system must be in balance for proper motor tone, coordination, and movement development. Chiropractic adjustments help by: ✅ Restoring Nervous System Communication → Ensuring clear brain-body signaling for movement coordination. ✅ Reducing Tension & Imbalances → Supporting appropriate muscle tone and flexibility. ✅ Enhancing Brain Development → Supporting neural pathways responsible for motor learning. ✅ Encouraging Proper Milestone Progression → Helping babies and children move through the right patterns at the right time.
By addressing the root cause of motor dysfunction rather than just symptoms, chiropractic care plays a vital role in supporting natural, healthy movement patterns in children.
Movement-Based Therapies: A Tool, Not a Solution
Parents often turn to physical therapy, occupational therapy, or movement programs when their child struggles with motor development. While these therapies are valuable tools, they work best when paired with chiropractic care, which ensures the nervous system is functioning properly.
Think of it this way:
Movement-based therapies “teach” the body how to move correctly.
Chiropractic care ensures the brain and nervous system can properly execute those movements.
Without a properly functioning nervous system, movement-based therapies may provide temporary improvement but fail to create lasting change.
Why Movement Matters for a Lifetime
The way a child moves impacts their learning, focus, behavior, and emotional regulation. A well-functioning motor nervous system builds the foundation for:
Better balance and coordination
Improved posture and core strength
Stronger brain-body communication
More confidence in movement and daily activities
Movement is not just about physical strength—it’s about neurological development. Ensuring your child’s nervous system is functioning at its best from the start can set them up for a lifetime of success.
Your Child’s Nervous System Holds the Key
If your child has skipped milestones, struggles with coordination, or has muscle tone imbalances, their nervous system may need support. Chiropractic care ensures that the brain, spinal cord, and muscles are working together properly, allowing for optimal movement, learning, and development.
Every milestone matters. Let’s make sure your child’s nervous system is set up for success! Schedule a consultation today to learn how chiropractic care can support your child’s movement and motor development.
