Vojta Therapy

• Vojta therapy or Reflex Locomotion, (RL),

• Developed by
– Czech Paediatric Neurologist, Professor Vojta at the
beginning of the 1950s.

– closely studied the babies’

• the natural mobility
• Innate muscle control progression

– Observed that
• movement caused motor reactions throughout the body
– as a result of specific stimulation via the central nervous system.
• Babies have an innate ability to develop
– movements to grasp,
– reach,
– roll,
– sit up,
– crawl, and eventually stand up and walk

• These abilities are not taught

– but appear to be ‘stored movement patterns’,
– which control the muscles of the body in a co-
ordinated sequence.
• ‘Global patterns’ form the basis of Reflex
Locomotion
– the motor responses
• resulting from the application of pressure
• applied to specific areas of the body
• which cause the reflexes.

• Vojta therapy involves pressure or massage

– on one part of the body,
– which stimulates related motor patterns, of stored
movement muscle activity,
• as in creeping,
• crawling or walking
• According to Vojta,
– reflex locomotion is activated from the three main positions:
• Prone,
• Supine,
• Side lying.

• To stimulate the patterns of movement,

– ten available zones on the body, arms, legs.

• Combination of different zones and changes in

pressure and extension
– both patterns of movement can be activated
• Reflex rolling
• Reflex creeping.
 One Principle – Many Variations
• The movement sequences of reflex locomotion are retrievable at all
times.

• The three main positions—

– prone, supine, side lying
– have more than thirty variations.

• By
– Combining and varying stimulation zones and resistances,
– Making slight changes in directions of pressure and joint angles in the starting
position,

• therapy can be adapted to the patient’s individual clinical picture and

treatment goal.
 Reflex Creeping
• Movement sequence - includes the most
fundamental components of locomotion

1. Specific postural control,

2. Uprighting or extension against gravity
3. Goal-directed stepping movements of the
arms and legs.
• The main position
– Prone lying with the head resting on the bed
rotated to one side.

• In new-born babies
– reflex creeping can be fully activated from one
zone
• In older children and in adults
– A combination of several pressure points is
necessary.
 The goals of reflex creeping
• Activation of the muscular support and uprighting
mechanisms
– necessary for supporting and grasping, rising and walking,
– stepping movements of the arms and legs

• Activation of the respiratory, abdominal, and pelvic floor

musculature, the sphincters of the bladder and bowel

• Swallowing (important for mastication)

• Eye movements
• Movement - cross pattern,
– the right leg and the left arm, or vice versa, move
simultaneously.
– A leg and its contralateral arm support the body
and move the trunk forwards.
• In therapy,
– the therapist sets up an adequate resistance
against the patient’s incipient head rotation.

– This strengthens the activation of the overall body

musculature,
• thus creating the pre-conditions for uprighting.
 Reflex rolling
• Reflex rolling transitions from supine to side lying and leads to
crawling.

• In a healthy new-born baby – spontaneous

– Sixth month of life, or eighth/ninth month.

• With Vojta therapy,

– it can even be obtained in new-born babies.

• Therapeutically, reflex rolling is used in different phases

– supine
– side lying
 1. Phase
• Starts with
– supine lying,
– arms and legs extended.

• Stimulation
– Breast zone in the intercostal space (7th/8th ribs)
• beneath the nipple on the mammillary line,

• Rotation to the side is achieved.

• Rotation of the head is resisted

– by the therapist/practitioner.
 The fundamental reactions are:
• Spine - Extension

• Hip, Knee, Ankle joints - Flexion

• Maintenance of the legs in this position against gravity,

– outside the support base of the back

• Arms - Preparation for the following support function

• Lateral eye movements

• Initiation of swallowing
• Increase in the depth of breathing
• Coordinated, differentiated activation of the abdominal muscles
 2. Phase
• The second phase of reflex rolling has its onset in side lying.

• It encompasses movement sequences that are also present in

spontaneous rolling, crawling and lateral movement.

• The underlying upper arm and leg support the body.

• They move it upwards and forwards against gravity.

• In so doing,
– muscular activation in the underlying arm proceeds from the shoulder to the
elbow
– finally to the hand, where it finds support.

• The movement ends when the rolling sequence is completed in

crawling.
 Fundamental Reactions:
• Contrary flexion and extension movements
– Over and underlying arms and legs
– Increase in support function
• underlying shoulder
– progressing to the hand,
• underlying pelvis
– progressing to the leg

• Extension of the spine

– during the entire rolling sequence

• Maintenance of the head in side lying, against gravity

 Carry over
• Even after treatment,
– the programme of the pattern of movement still remains
active in the patient's brain
• for differing lengths of time.

• Thus, the patient’s spontaneous access to the patterns

activated in multiple daily treatment intervals
– often persists for the whole day,
– and the patient exhibits a lasting improvement in
• posture,
• movement
• perception.
• For Vojta Therapy to be successful,
– performed several times a day
• (up to four times where necessary).

– A therapy session lasts

• 10 to 20 minutes.