Which areas are considered key points of control in NDT therapy?

Which areas are considered key points of control in NDT therapy?

• A. Pelvic and shoulder girdles (other points can be elbows, wrists, ankles, knees, hip)
• B. The occipital cortex and cerebellum
• C. The distal fingers only
• D. The mouth and jaw joints

Answer: (A)

In NDT therapy, key points of control are the body regions where the therapist’s hands guide movement and influence tone. The pelvis and shoulder girdles are primary because they anchor the trunk and proximal limbs, providing a stable base from which coordinated, functional movement emerges. By stabilizing and guiding these areas, you can help normalize posture, reduce abnormal muscle tone, and facilitate symmetry and smoother limb motor patterns. Other joints can be used as needed—elbows, wrists, ankles, knees, and hips—but the pelvis and shoulder girdles remain the central levers for postural control and overall movement. The other options aren’t used as primary control points: brain regions like the occipital cortex and cerebellum aren’t accessible targets for manual handling in this approach, relying only on distal fingers won’t establish the necessary proximal stability, and the mouth and jaw are more related to orofacial function than general limb movement.

In NDT therapy, key points of control are the body regions where the therapist’s hands guide movement and influence tone. The pelvis and shoulder girdles are primary because they anchor the trunk and proximal limbs, providing a stable base from which coordinated, functional movement emerges. By stabilizing and guiding these areas, you can help normalize posture, reduce abnormal muscle tone, and facilitate symmetry and smoother limb motor patterns. Other joints can be used as needed—elbows, wrists, ankles, knees, and hips—but the pelvis and shoulder girdles remain the central levers for postural control and overall movement. The other options aren’t used as primary control points: brain regions like the occipital cortex and cerebellum aren’t accessible targets for manual handling in this approach, relying only on distal fingers won’t establish the necessary proximal stability, and the mouth and jaw are more related to orofacial function than general limb movement.