MNRI (Masgutova Neusosensorimotor Reflex Integration)

What is MNRI (Masgutova Neurosensorimotor Reflex Integration) ? 

When we build a house, we don't start from the roof. We start at the foundation. In MNRI, when a therapist treats a person, we do the same. MNRI is a treatment approach created by Dr. Svetlana Masgutova to address functional skills from the foundation up.

The MNRI approach uses reflex patterns to awaken the genetic sensory-motor memory to make it faster and easier for the nervous system to self-restore the impaired functions. 

Our reflexes are our “survival system. " Their purpose is to ensure the survival of our species so they are activated in times of stress. Stress can look different for different people. For one child, it could be a stressful birth (c-section, prolonged labor, lack of oxygen), for another it could be an accident/illness (hospitalized with RSV, fall off a bike, hurt in sport), and for others it could be a trauma (neglect, abuse, being in the foster care system, parents separation). 

It is hard to determine how much stress is enough to cause "malfunction (hyperactive and/or hypoactive) of a reflex," however we all want to keep the "reflex" in a way that we can only use it as needed, not "all the time," 

The treatments include techniques to manipulate and move the: skin, fascia, tendon golgi bodies, and ligaments. These techniques stimulate the brain's sensory and proprioceptive receptors giving the brain information that the body is safe and protected. 

Treatment sessions are a combination of hands-on manual techniques performed by the therapist and active movements performed by the client (movement tasks). We also work with clients/their families to create home exercise programs that work for them as needed. In order to see success with MNRI, as in any treatment, it is important to be dedicated to the home exercise program.