The Green Light Reflex: Understanding Its Impact on Posture and Movement
The Green Light Reflex is a key physiological response that propels the body forward during movement. It involves the activation of major back muscles, which work together to support walking, running, and standing. This reflex is established in early childhood, rooted in the Landau reflex that typically emerges around 3 to 4 months of age. However, in response to chronic stress, these muscles can become habitually contracted, pulling the body backward and potentially leading to postural imbalances.
This reflex is particularly strong throughout life, especially when people feel the need to be heard by others. When someone needs to raise their voice, they often arch their back, lift their head, open their chest, and sometimes even adjust their hips and feet. This reaction is a natural extension of the Green Light Reflex, which helps to emphasize presence and assertiveness.
You can think of the Green Light Reflex as a “righting reflex,” one that pulls us into an upright, attention-like posture, much like a soldier standing at attention. Whether we’re running to catch a train, sitting at a computer for hours, lifting a child, or standing for extended periods, these “green light” muscles engage to help us meet the demands of these tasks.
However, if this reflex becomes habitual, it can lead to several physical issues. Chronic overuse of these muscles may contribute to conditions such as herniated discs, neck pain, shoulder pain, or sciatica. Additionally, this reflex can cause misalignment in the body, with the buttocks pushing forward and the shoulder blades pulling back, leading to underdeveloped gluteal muscles and outward-facing feet.
In my practice, when I guide a person to move their shoulders forward and their hips slightly backward, they often feel as though they are leaning forward, even though this is a more balanced, neutral position. This perception highlights how deeply ingrained the Green Light Reflex can become.
Fortunately, it is possible to gradually retrain the brain and body to adopt a more neutral posture. By focusing on strengthening the front muscles of the body and becoming more aware of posture, individuals can reduce the over-contraction of the back muscles, alleviating back and neck pain and even reducing symptoms of hip joint arthritis.
