Wired to Move

Why do I target old scars?

A scar changes the sensory information coming from that area.

The mechanoreceptors in and around the tissue are constantly providing information about touch, pressure and movement. When that information is interpreted as a potential threat, the nervous system can change how it organises movement as a protective response.

So sometimes the issue isn’t simply the scar itself.

It’s the sensory information the nervous system is receiving from it.

This is why I pay attention to changes in movement when I stimulate an old scar.

If it creates a meaningful change, that’s a big clue as to where I’d start to solve the problem.

Your lymphatic system is doing a LOT more than just “draining fluid.”

It plays an important role in regulating inflammation, managing fluid around your tissues and helping your immune system see what’s happening in the body.

Lymph picks up excess fluid, immune cells and other material from your tissues and transports it through your lymph nodes, where your immune system can monitor what’s going on.

So when we work with the lymphatic system, we're not simply “flushing toxins.”

We're supporting a system that helps regulate the fluid, immune and inflammatory environment of your tissues.

This matters for more than just general health.

Pain, movement and muscle tension are all influenced by the environment your nervous system is working within.

That's why I include lymphatic work in my approach, not because it's a magic fix, but because your nervous system, immune system and tissues don't operate independently. They're one connected system.

In this reel I’m showing you a simple cervical lymph clearing technique you can use on yourself.

The key is gentle, rhythmic pressure because lymphatic work isn't about pushing harder. 🧠💧

Helping kids like this is really special to me 🤩

This boy came to me because his parents were looking for some support. He had been pigeon-toed since birth and they wanted to understand if there was anything contributing to the way he was moving.

The main advice they had been given was to ride scooters with his foot straight.

When I watched him walk, there were a few things that stood out. His feet were turning in, he was landing heavily through his feet, and he didn't have great control through his foot strike.

For me, that isn't just about looking at the feet and trying to change how they're positioned.

We found some compensations around his hips, as well as retained primitive reflexes, which gave us some clues about how his nervous system was organising his movement.

So rather than spending time teaching him how to walk differently, we worked on the sensory information his nervous system was missing and provided the inputs it was asking for.

Then we watched what happened.

The nervous system is a self-organising system. When you provide it with the right information, it can organise movement very differently.

His feet became quieter, his legs had more control and his walking changed without us having to cue or train a different walking pattern.

This was only 1 session let alone what we can do with further sessions to come.

This is why I target the nervous system.

We didn't need to change the movement directly. We addressed what was influencing it, provided the nervous system with the input it needed, and the movement changed. 🧠

Our senses don’t work in isolatio 🧠

Your brain is constantly bringing information together from vision, balance, touch, proprioception and everything else to work out what is happening and how your body needs to respond.

When that information isn’t being processed coherently, your nervous system can start putting protective strategies in place.

That might look like:
• Persistent tension
• Restricted movement
• Altered strength
• Poor coordination
• Sensitivity or pain

This is a big part of why I focus so much on the nervous system and our sensory system rather than simply chasing the area that hurts.

Old injuries, scars, falls or areas that have previously been threatened can continue to influence the information your nervous system is receiving long after the tissue has healed.

By addressing those sensory inputs and improving how the nervous system is processing them, we can change the protective responses your body has developed and ultimately change how you move, feel and perform.

Sometimes changing the symptom starts with changing the information the nervous system is working with.

This audio is of Dr Olivia Lesslar who speaks so eloquently on this topic 🙌

I get such a kick out of teaching these workshops 🙌

Getting SQUARE1 into the hands of more therapists and practitioners who can take it back into their own practices and start helping more people by working with the nervous system is pretty bloody cool.

Another awesome weekend on the Gold Coast with a great group of people. So grateful to everyone who showed up, got stuck in and trusted the process.

Can’t wait to see where you take it! 🧠⚡

Could a retained Babkin reflex be contributing to your neck, jaw or upper body tension?

The Babkin reflex is an early developmental reflex involving the hands, mouth and facial muscles.

When it remains active beyond the stage where it should naturally integrate, I often see it influencing things like:

• Jaw tension or clenching
• Neck and upper body tension
• Tightness through the chest and shoulders
• Changes in hand and grip patterns
• Difficulty relaxing the upper body
• Increased tension during movement or physical activity

For athletes, these patterns can have a significant impact on how efficiently the body moves and coordinates under load.

This is why I don't always look at the area that feels tight and simply try to release it.

Sometimes the more important question is why is the nervous system continuing to create that tension in the first place?

The Babkin reflex is one piece of the puzzle I assess when I see these patterns.

Your calves might not actually be the problem.

If you're constantly stretching tight calves, trying to loosen stiff ankles, or dealing with recurring shin discomfort, it may be worth asking why your body is creating that tension in the first place.

One thing I assess is the Babinski reflex.

This primitive reflex should integrate early in life. When it remains active, it can influence muscle tone, foot mechanics, ankle mobility and even contribute to patterns like toe walking.

It's not the only reason these issues occur, but it's an often-overlooked piece of the puzzle that can help explain why symptoms keep returning despite massage, stretching or strengthening.

Rather than chasing tight muscles, I look at what the nervous system is doing and why.

Have you or your child always had tight calves, stiff ankles or a tendency to walk on your toes, this could be a key aspect as to why. 📈🧠