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Trainer’s Corner: Back to Basics

by: Gavin Broomes

I think the title “Trainer’s Corner” is very applicable for two reasons: 1) This friendly

post is coming directly from one of your trainers, and 2) It is analogous to a

boxer’s trainer. A boxer’s trainer will do his best to provide the boxer with all

the skills necessary to succeed. Your ABR trainers are charged with a similar

task, so the analogy should resonate pretty well.

Round 1: Before going out into the ABR world, you should have a solid grasp of the

fundamentals. In the ABR context, these fundamentals are numerous and

sometimes overwhelming…however I will bring you through some of them

step by step (round per round). During the majority of my evaluations, there

is a common thread that weaves its way all the way through each family

unit…they forget that this is a PROCESS. Process is “a systematic series of 

actions directed to some goal”…therefore by definition it should be clear that

things have to go in sequence and in phases. The fact that you cannot skip

over phases is not an arbitrary decision, rather a reality you have to

understand and integrate.

Each phase is designed in preparation for the next phase and is structurally

predetermined by the human motor developmental pattern…not by ABR. We

are bound to this developmental path by mother- nature so any questions

that relate to more complex developmental skills should be automatically

answered.

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In the past, I have found it useful to help parents differentiate between

chronological age and developmental age. To be more precise, in healthy

individuals the chronological age comes with some predictable

developmental milestones. In effect, you can accurately estimate the

chronological age by knowing (seeing) the developmental phase they are in.

In the above image, the developmental age (stage of development) is typicallyachieved at a certain age (for example: sits without support between 5-8

months). This type of chart can be somewhat confusing to many parents.

Statements like “he / she is 4 years old so we have to stand them to help

them develop the hips” come from this well-ingrained developmental chart.

However, as mentioned before, if the previous stages have not yet been

achieved (lifting and holding the head, rolling over, from prone position lifts

chest with arm support, etc..) then any discussion (or statements) regarding

more advanced skills is unproductive. Therefore, more emphasis and focus

on the developmental age will be, not only helpful in understanding the big

picture, but more accurate in assessing your child’s current progress.

If you have ever seen any of the Rocky movies, you can appreciate the image of the

grizzled trainer, Mickey, yelling at Rocky and trying to motivate him through

a seemingly insurmountable challenge. Although I obviously won’t yell and

scream, the intensity is still there: “Get back to basics!! Remember the

fundamentals, Rock!” The road is long and there will be challenges…

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however you have a trainer in your corner who will slap a towel around your

neck in between rounds, sit you down, throw water on your face, and give it

to you straight.

See you soon for round 2!