Reflex inhibitory postures in the Bobath technique are well known in therapy for cerebral palsied infants and children. By undergoing reflex inhibitory postures, cerebral palsied infants and children can experience decreased muscle tone. We decided to compare the effect of a reflex inhibitory posture with the effect of a simple supine position on the frequency depression curve of the H reflex. When stimulation was applied at low frequency, the reflex inhibitory posture decreased the value of frequency depression of the H reflex. This phenomenon has already been reported. In this study, we sought to examine the effect of the inhibitory posture on motor ability.
The subjects were 56 infants and children from one month to seven years of age with abnormal muscle tone.
The value of frequency depression of the H reflex, evoked by low frequency stimulation, did not correlate with motor ability. Thus, although the reflex inhibitory posture could decrease muscle tone and the value of frequency depression of the H reflex, this might not be important in improving motor ability.
On the other hand, as we have previously reported, the transcortical response in cutaneous reflexes increased its amplitude in conjunction with motor development, so the function of the transcortical pathway may be important for advanced movements. In cases whose cutaneous reflexes matured to almost the same degree, H reflexes evoked by high frequency stimulation decreased in amplitude as motor development progressed, suggesting that the function of the gamma motor system is also important in motor development.
From the above, we believe that not only reflex inhibitory techniques but also facilitation approaches for motor programming are necessary for therapeutic development in cerebral palsy.

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