Re: Brain Gym --where is the REAL research?

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Brain Gym --where is the REAL research?

by L.L.

Jan 29, 2005

/blockquote>

With Brain Gym, one may not understand or be able to fully
assess the
neurological and physiological underpinnings of the
educational
kinesiology theory; however, testing the results/outcomes
of
implementing "Brain Gym" techniques by employing solid,
well-designed
research is rather straightforward. Here are my concerns
about
the "literature" for Brain Gym---and some suggestions for
improving
the literature so that, if Brain Gym IS/IS NOT effective,
we can trust
the data behind those conclusions:

Type “Brain Gym” into [link removed].

As I scanned through the literature available, as well as
many
websites containing “information” about Brain Gym, I
noticed several
consistent flaws in the research pertaining to Brain Gym
or
Educational Kinesiology.

1.Studies that purported Brain Gym’s efficacy generally
contained:
a.Small sample sizes (they ...See More

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Charlotte /blockquote>

You are very perceptive!

I am a former teacher and currently a Masters student in
psychology and education and have been reviewing the claims of
brain gym. I acknowledge that when brain gym activities are used
with children you can sometimes see improvements in their
confidence and concentration but...See More

Nov 13, 2006

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OTDrew /blockquote>

On 9/24/06, mary mcbride wrote:
> I use brain gym every day with students and the difference
> in attitude and behavior convinces me that BG is
> profound....I get so tired of the old paradigm of SCIENTIFIC
> evidence .....just notice the difference in yourself....

I am an occupational t...See More

Dec 8, 2006

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Dec 8, 2006

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Dec 8, 2006

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Robert On 9/26/06, Michelle wrote: > Great Response Penny! Carla Hannaford's work is wonderful to > read. I have taken classes from her and she is a delightful > teacher. The bottom line is that it works. Kids lives are > changed for the better. That is what counts. MH >> >> Brain gym employs muscle checking which can be used to fi...See MoreOn 9/26/06, Michelle wrote: > Great Response Penny! Carla Hannaford's work is wonderful to > read. I have taken classes from her and she is a delightful > teacher. The bottom line is that it works. Kids lives are > changed for the better. That is what counts. MH >> >> Brain gym employs muscle checking which can be used to figure >> out a child's dominance patterns, which in turn help us at our >> school understand and respond to a student's behavioral patterns >> under stress. Brain gym exercises can calm and focus students , >> probably because many of them benefit from work on crossing the >> midline, an Occupational Therapy term, used by many O.T.'s, >> exercise science professionals,sensory integration specialists, >> neuro-developmental educators and clinicians. There are many, >> many of these folks with much research under their belts who >> support this and similar exercises for focusing and energizing >> the brain for learning. A couple of resources might be helpful: >> Jean Ayres, Sally Goddard's and Svea Gold's work; Athena Oden'w >> work too and the work of the Minneapolis Charter school: A >> Chance to Grow (actg.org) which is training public school >> personnel in mnay states to use its Smart Boost Up curriculum. >> >> Yes, research is essential. But assuming a method is not useful >> nor effective because there is not enough research on it can >> mean missing out some important new approaches to helping >> children who have trouble learning in our current school >> systems. Brain gym has been used successfully for many years by >> lots of schools and individuals including many professionals I >> know. I wish someone would do serious research on its methods, >> but until it happens I will continue to use its exercises and >> precepts as I develop my own school's repertoire of successful >> strategies for jumpstarting our students' reading scores as well >> as lower behavioral intervention stats on our special needs >> kids. Those are stats too. >> >> Check out Carla Hannaford's books on The Dominance Factor and >> Learning is Not All in Your Head (exact title?) which talk about >> her work using Brain Gym. >> Dr. Hannaford has an impressive track record with Brain Gym and >> now trains around the world on use of this method. >> >> >> In your quest to defend BG you set aside the fact that the original author of this post stated the same thing you just did: that is that most, if not all of the support for BG is anecdotal. This is what you describe, aside from all the kida-sorta scientific terminology you attempt. "Muscle Checking" How does BG employ muscle checking? More to the point muscle checking is something that is a clinically applied modality. One cannot perform muscle checking on oneself. Even a successful argument for the liberal definition of muscle checking you adopt would mean that simply doing jumping jacks and other common exercises would do the same thing as BG. Actually it is the package that makes BG so effective for people. It is laid out and organized exercise and people like things that are organized for them. Add a little science-talk in there about laterality and dominance and sensory integration and you got it made. BG is successful because it is a no-brain package that people who cannot organize themselves find useful as it tells them exactly what to do.That would be an excellent research project which I will soon undertake. That is a comparison of BG acitivities and regular physical activity that is very structured over time and the effects of both. My whole point is, stop with the science talk, esp. if you are using terms inappropriately in an effort to bolster your credibility. Some may be impressed, but not all. In addition, stop argiung with a skeptic. Skeptics are the reasone we are not out buying snake oil every day...wait...aren't we?

Dec 5, 2009

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