Safety-First Movement Entry Guide

Don’t just dose the movement—dose the safety.

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🔹 Purpose: To help clinicians select and introduce movements in a way that prioritizes nervous system safety, not just biomechanics or reps.

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🔹 Why This Matters: If a patient’s system doesn’t feel safe, even the “perfect” exercise can backfire. Movement isn’t just a physical stimulus—it’s a message. This guide helps you craft the message of: You’re safe here.

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🌀 Step 1: Scan the System

Before choosing a movement, ask yourself:

▫️ Is this movement emotionally safe for them?

▫️ Have they expressed fear or doubt about it?

▫️ Do they have a history of “flaring up” after similar motions?

💡If the answer is yes to any—downshift the challenge, not the value.

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🌀 Step 2: Find the Entry Point

“Where can we begin that feels safe but slightly new?”

▫️ Choose a variation of the movement that’s low-threat.

Example:

🔁 Wall sits instead of squats

🔁 Seated trunk rotation instead of standing

🔁 Floor glides instead of planks

▫️ Ask: “Does this feel okay?”

▫️ Listen to body language as much as words.

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🌀 Step 3: Add Safety Cues (Verbal + Visual)

Use calming, clear language:

▫️ “Let’s explore this gently.”

▫️ “We’re not testing anything—we’re just inviting movement.”

▫️ “You’re in charge of when to stop.”

💡Pair with:

▫️ Slower breathing

▫️ Reassuring tone and pacing

▫️ Visual modeling of ease, not tension

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🌀 Step 4: Reflect Together

“What did you notice? What surprised you?”

▫️ Celebrate nervous system wins (less guarding, more range, less fear).

▫️ Normalize small flare-ups as learning, not failure.

▫️ Reinforce: “That’s your system recalibrating.”

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📌 Tip:

🟠 Safety ≠ Easy.

🟠 The goal isn’t to baby the system—it’s to earn its trust so it can do more.

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🧠 Final Insight

When safety leads, capacity follows. Every movement you introduce is a conversation with the nervous system. If that conversation starts with trust, it opens the door to possibility. This isn’t about doing less—it’s about doing what matters, in a way that says, “You’re safe to try.”

This resource is part of The Wondering Clinician Toolkit. It’s not medical advice—just a tool to support learning, reflection, and healing. Always consult your clinician when needed.