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A. Jean Ayres Baker
Torrance, CA
October 22 1975
Dear Phil:
I was delighted to get your letter of October 19 and I found its contents most encouraging.
The fact that you can notice improvement in coordination as a result of the activities indicates that your nervous system can change in a positive direction. If it has changed that much in a few months, it will probably change some more in the coming months. I am particularly pleased with your report of reduced nausea when swinging on the platform wing. That means your brain is modulating the vestibular input better. As it becomes better modulated, you will be able to tolerate more movement; more movement will, in turn, help your nervous system to work better. It is like breaking a vicious circle.
Glad to hear the football is working out well. I don't think I gave you very good directions for using it, but you seem to have done well with what I said. Here is a more explicit set of directions. The objective is to get your brain to send automatic messages to the muscles that make your trunk muscles contract just enough to keep your center of gravity on the ball. I suspect those automatic movements don't come through very automatically with you. You may have to help them by thinking about rotating your trunk a little and consciously doing it when you find yourself beginning to roll to one side, or bending your trunk if you start to go forward or backward. The best way to do that is to first position yourself on the ball so that you are close to being able to balance, then put one hand on the floor. Then try not to use your hand to help you balance, just to keep you from falling off, but try to balance by wiggling your trunk. If it doesn't come naturally, explore movements a little bit by deliberately moving your trunk one way or another to see the effect.
Another way of getting those reactions is by nailing a piece of wood about 2"x2" on the bottom of a larger piece of wood. Then get on top of the wood on your hands and knees and rock the board back and forth in different directions.
Something else you might try sometime is a jumping board. I don't use one because it is difficult to get one light enough for me to carry around but sturdy enough to hold up. Put a piece of 2x4 crosswise at either end of a long, narrow board that has a spring to it, then jump on it. Maybe a 2x6 would be better for a 14 year old.
Incidentally, many parents have reported growth spurts as a result of sensory integrative therapy. You might be interested in keeping track of your growth rate.
Blowing on a tin whistle while on the platform swing (which is mostly for balancing rather than swinging) is a good idea. The automatic system often comes in better if the consciousness is directed elsewhere.
Love,
Jean
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