Train Your Brain - Kinesthetic Integration
M3Kinections’ curriculum uses focused movement to regulate the body while engaging in difficult tasks.
Curriculum promotes brain development
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Mindfulness
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Primitive reflex integration
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Breathing-work,
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Balance and vision
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Cross body challenges
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Autonomic nervous system regulation
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Gross and fine motor exercises
Clients increase processing speed, balance, body regulation, visual acuity, shift-set, and peripheral vision.
Wendy Suzuki - Exercise and the Brain
Neuroscientist, Wendy Suzuki, discusses how understanding the patterns of brain activity, underlying long-term memory and aerobic exercise play roles in improving our learning, memory and cognition. (14 mins.)
Visual Bio Feedback
Gain the Advantages Used by Professional Athletes.
PIMG Academy D2 Training
Subtle shifts in hand/eye coordination and response times have a profound effect on performance.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34354603/
Cognitive Testing
Protect The Only Brain You'll Ever Have.
Concussion comes from the Latin concutere, meaning 'to shake violently'. Within the skull, the brain floats in a protective suspension of cerebrospinal fluid. A concussion occurs when either a direct impact or whiplash effect causes the brain to move inside the head and bump against the skull. Classic symptoms include confusion, loss of consciousness, disorientation, unsteadiness, dizziness, headache, and visual disturbances. Ultimately a concussion sets off what is known as the neurometabolic cascade - injured parts of the brain respond excitedly, over-firing affected synapses.
Why does it matter?
Every brain is unique. Without knowing the nuances of your brain, it is difficult to know what was affected by a head impact. The data collected during a baseline test helps medical professionals know how to best design your care plan after injure. Additionally, the results inform how and when you can safely return to various activities.
What is a concussion baseline?
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A baseline is a fixed point of reference that is used for comparison purposes.
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Baseline concussion tests assess balance, brain function, visual acuity, concentration, and movement accuracy.
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There are numerous baseline concussion tests available. Each assesses some combination of cognitive processing, vision, and balance.
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Every type of test has areas of strength areas of weakness. If you or your child are extremely active in high-impact sports, a combination of tests may be your best option.
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The Dynavision D2 assesses areas of strength and weakness in vision, balance, and movement.
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The test is simple, thorough, and identically repeatable.
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Tests visual acuity, peripheral vision, processing speed, memory, executive functions, vision tracking, and balance.
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Provides object, computer generated data, measuring visual perception and reaction time to 1/100th of a second.
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Establishes comparitive, pre-impact baseline data for return-to-activity decisions.
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Get back to doing what you love - Wisely!
Understand the micro shifts in the brain post impact. Use of vision permeates through 80+% of the brain. Specific vision tests can provide critical information about how your brain is truly functioning after impact.
Minnesota Functional Neurology Center use of Dynavision D2 in concussion recovery.
Cognitive Sports Training
Maximize Athletic Performance Through Training Smarter!
M3Kinections (formerly M3Connections) training video
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Highly driven athletes
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Advanced performance, enhancement
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Improves performance differentials and focus challenges
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Move smarter
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Improve visual acuity, peripheral vision, and multi-sensory perceptual awareness
Primitive Reflex Integration
Simple exercises and focused play can help unresolved reflexes move from active in the pre-frontal cortex and appropriately housing in the primitive brain.
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Automatic reflexes
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Present at birth
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Resolve into primitive brain as nervous system matures
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Integration required for normal development and motor function
Examples of primitive reflexes include the rooting reflex, which causes a baby to turn their head towards a touch on the cheek. The disappearance of the rooting reflex allows a baby to focus on objects and begin to reach for them.
Symptoms of unintegrated primitive reflexes
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neurological and developmental disorders
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ADHD
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autism
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delayed processing speed and comprehension
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stress and anxiety issues
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behavioral challenges
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dyspraxia
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coordination challenges
Dynavision D2 Board
IMG Dynavision D2 training session
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Interactive light board that uses 64 3D targets to train a broad range of skills
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Leading sports training device used by professional athletes around the world to improve reaction time, visual awareness, hand-eye coordination, processing speed, and balance in motion.
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Improve overall performance in academics, post head impact recuperation, and daily function.
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Neuro-cognitive rehabilitation device is known to improve users' peripheral perception and awareness, reaction time, hand-eye coordination, balance, cognitive processing ability, neuro-cognitive abilities, gross motor skills, and functional mobility.
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Evaluate and train visual, cognitive, and motor function across all ages, stages, and conditions.
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Rehabilitation uses addressing underlying visual, cognitive and motor deficits including visual-motor reaction time, peripheral visual awareness, executive functions, active range-of-motion and dynamic balance.
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Baseline concussion testing and post-impact evaluation based on computer data within a 1/100 sec.
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Improves function and performance as new skills develop and improve.
Vagus Nerve Response
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Longest nerve in the body
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Comes to surface at the temples, soft palate, and pelvic floor
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Controls many of the body's involuntary functions, such as heart rate, breathing, and digestion
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Key in maintaining the body’s balance and homeostasis
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Responsible for stimulating the “rest and digest” response, slowing the heart rate, and promoting relaxation
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Boosts immune system and reducing inflammation
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Related to the body's "fight or flight" response and reduces cortisol level
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Strengthening the vagus nerve response minimizes reaction to stress and anxiety
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Visual Processing Exercises
Eye exercises - give them a try!
Eye exercises
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Strengthen weak eye muscles
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Improve blood circulation and
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Develop muscle tone
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Minimize eye strain
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Visual efficiencyl
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Increase visual acuity
Vision challenges have a direct relationship to learning challenges.
Core Movement
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Reduce back pain
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Stabilize entire body
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Better balance
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Support body/frame
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Athletic performance
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Reduce fall risk
Concussion Rehabilition
MFNC - Dynavision D2 board - concussion rehabilitation
What is a concussion baseline?
-
A baseline is a fixed point of reference that is used for comparison purposes.
-
Baseline concussion tests assess balance, brain function, visual acuity, concentration, and movement accuracy.
-
There are numerous baseline concussion tests available.
-
Each assesses some combination of cognitive processing, vision, and balance.
-
Every type of test has areas of strength areas of weakness. If you or your child are extremely active in high-impact sports, a combination of tests may be your best option.
-
The Dynavision D2 assesses current areas of strength and weakness in vision, balance, and movement.
Concussion comes from the Latin concutere, meaning 'to shake violently'. Within the skull, the brain floats in a protective suspension of cerebrospinal fluid. A concussion occurs when either a direct impact or whiplash effect causes the brain to move inside the head and bump against the skull. Classic symptoms include confusion, loss of consciousness, disorientation, unsteadiness, dizziness, headache, and visual disturbances. Ultimately a concussion sets off what is known as the neurometabolic cascade - injured parts of the brain respond excitedly, over-firing affected synapses.
Why does it matter?
Every brain is unique. Without knowing the nuances of your brain, it is difficult to know what was affected by a head impact.
After Head Impact
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Cycle of movement and rest
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Eye exercises
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Peripheral vision
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Visual acuity
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Processing speed
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Shift set (the ability to move between two or more points of focus)
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Vestibular work (orientation in space) can help with
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Balance
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Motion sickness
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Fatigue
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Cranial work for headaches
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Primitive reflex exercises
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Diet
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Mindfulness practices and breath-work to subdue fight or flight response
Neuroplasticity
Neuroplasticity is the brain's ability to change and adapt due to experience. It is an umbrella term referring to the brain's ability to change, reorganize, or grow neural networks. This can involve functional changes due to brain damage or structural changes due to learning.
How Neuroplasticity Works
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Birth - every neuron in the cerebral cortex has an estimated 2,500 synapses
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Age of three, this number has grown to a whopping 15,000 synapses per neuron.
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Average adult has about half that number of synapses.
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Synaptic pruning happens when we strengthen connections through frequent use - repetition and thought and other are eliminated through rare non-use.
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Neural novelty - engaging in new tasks and environments - is food for the brain.
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The brain can adapt to the changing environment.
Two main types of neuroplasticity:
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Functional plasticity is the brain's ability to move functions from a damaged area of the brain to other undamaged areas.
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Structural plasticity is the brain's ability to actually change its physical structure as a result of learning.
On Being and Remaining Present
Athlete statistics regarding size and weight
Since 1980 the average player size has increased in weight and height. Football hosts some of the greatest differentials in size. Within a single position size difference can be +20%. Additionally, in 1980, the "jumbo lineman", players at last 6'3" and 300 lb, didn't even exist. Until 1970, most players were similar in size. Now positions are extremely specialized and a 5'8", 180lb athlete can find himself facing a 6'3", 320 lb giant. Out thinking and out maneuvering your opponent is a critical strategy for protection as well as game success. Available cognitive training options are growing and essential. Brain training is now as imperative as training strength, agility, and speed.
In hockey, it is all about the slapshot. Equipment developments have created a small rocket launch ability. Add to that a 15" height differential between players and a 10% increase in weight since 1980, player and puck interaction can be catastrophic. The faster an athlete sees, the more an athlete comprehends, and quicker they react predict most likelihood of a game ending in success.
MBL players have increased on average 6” inches in height from 1970 to 2010. The average MLB player weight has also increased by 14% since 1870. In 008 pitchers overaged 91.8 mph on their four-seam fastballs. In 2021 that average shifted to 93.8 mph. is less time than it takes to attend kindergarten to graduating high school, baseball has gained two miles per hour on the average pitch speed. Keeping up with visual speed in increasing reaction time may be the difference from being a good player to being a great player.