Craniosacral Therapy for Tongue Tie (2024)
What is Craniosacral Therapy?
I see a lot of questions about baby craniosacral therapy on social media. Craniosacral therapy is wonderful for infants with tongue, lip, and cheek ties and this post will describe what are the benefits.
Craniosacral for Tongue Tied Babies
Tongue tie, medically known as ankyloglossia, can significantly impact a child's ability to breastfeed, speak, and even breathe properly. While traditional treatments like surgery may be necessary in severe cases, many parents are turning to alternative therapies like craniosacral therapy to address tongue tie-related issues. In this article, we delve into the benefits of craniosacral therapy for tongue tie, exploring how it targets fascia to alleviate imbalanced body tension and enhance developmental movement.
Tongue tie occurs when the tissue connecting the tongue to the floor of the mouth (lingual frenulum) is unusually tight or short, restricting the tongue's range of motion. This condition can lead to difficulties with breastfeeding, speech articulation, oral hygiene, and even posture.
Craniosacral therapy is a gentle, non-invasive form of bodywork that focuses on the craniosacral system, comprising the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Practitioners of craniosacral therapy use subtle manual techniques to release restrictions in the craniosacral system, promoting overall health and well-being.
What is Fascia?
Fascia is a connective tissue that surrounds muscles, bones, organs, and nerves, providing support and structure throughout the body. When fascia becomes tight or restricted, it can create imbalances in body tension, affecting range of motion and developmental movement patterns. In the case of tongue tie, fascial restrictions in the cranial and oral areas can exacerbate the condition by limiting the tongue's mobility and function. CST addresses the tension and asymmetries in the fascial system so that the body can move with better alignment and fluidity.
How Craniosacral Therapy Works on Fascia
Craniosacral therapy addresses fascial restrictions through gentle manipulation of the craniosacral system. By applying subtle pressure and traction to specific areas of the body, practitioners can release tension in the fascia, allowing for improved mobility and function. In the context of tongue tie, craniosacral therapy aims to release fascial restrictions around the tongue, mouth, and cranial bones, facilitating better tongue movement and oral function.
Benefits of Craniosacral Therapy for Tongue Tie:
Improved Tongue Mobility: By releasing fascial restrictions, craniosacral therapy can enhance the tongue's range of motion, making breastfeeding and speech articulation easier for infants and children with tongue tie.
Enhanced Developmental Movement: Fascial restrictions can impede normal developmental movement patterns in children. Craniosacral therapy helps restore balance to the body's fascial system, promoting smoother motor development.
Reduced Pain and Discomfort: Tongue tie can cause discomfort and pain, especially during breastfeeding. Craniosacral therapy offers gentle relief by addressing underlying fascial tensions without the need for invasive procedures.
Holistic Approach: Unlike surgery, craniosacral therapy takes a holistic approach to healing, considering the interconnectedness of the body's systems. By addressing fascial restrictions, it not only treats the symptoms of tongue tie but also supports overall health and well-being.
Craniosacral therapy offers a gentle and effective alternative for parents seeking solutions to tongue tie-related issues in their children. By targeting fascial restrictions and promoting optimal craniosacral system function, this non-invasive therapy can unlock numerous benefits, including improved tongue mobility, enhanced developmental movement, and reduced pain and discomfort. If your child is struggling with tongue tie, consider exploring the potential of craniosacral therapy as part of their treatment plan.
Craniosacral therapy is a very gentle manual therapy. It focuses on the bones of the pelvis, spinal column, and the bones of the head. Another important factor that CST addresses is fascia.
What might improve from craniosacral therapy?
Your baby may feel more comfortable, poop more, sleep better, and have better latch or feeding skills. If you think your baby has a tongue tie. I recommend seeing a bodyworker/ craniosacral therapist first for treatment. If things do not improve we can determine that this may be a true tie that needs further evaluation and treatment.
What to expect after a craniosacral treatment?
Your baby may sleep a lot more than usual following a treatment, but also might not. They may be hungrier than usual, or they may feed better. I've had families tell me their baby slept much better following a treatment or that they had a different baby after. I've heard some families report a significant improvement in their baby's tolerance for car rides or that head and neck mobility improved significantly. Once passive mobility and tension are addressed I like to also address active mobility and strength. I like to incorporate tummy time into most of my sessions.
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I offer:
stand alone craniosacral
infant feeding + craniosacral visits
once a month special rate craniosacral
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Emanuel, M. (2018). Bodywork, Neurodevelopment, and TummyTime! In Tongue-Tied: How a Tiny String Under the Tongue Impacts Nursing, Speech, Feeding, and More (1st ed., pp. 225–240). essay, Alabama Tongue-Tie Center. Infant Craniosacral
Mt. Pleasant, SC
Hi, I’m Erica,
I’m a holistic infant feeding specialist, IBCLC, and pediatric OT in Charleston, South Carolina. I am trained in a variety of infant manual therapies and techniques that are helpful for the treatment of feeding and movement challenges. These include:
Osteopathic based Craniosacral Therapy
Total Motion Release for Oral Ties
Neuro-developmental therapy (NDT)
Infant Massage
Infant Reflexology
Do you think your baby would benefit from bodywork to feel more comfortable in their body? Book a craniosacral therapy session below.
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