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Bluffton Craniosacral & Tongue Tie Therapy

BODYWORK & ORAL MOTOR THERAPY
FOR  BABIES, KIDS, & ADULTS

BREAST & BOTTLE FEEDING DIFFICULTIES • ORAL TIES • DELAYED MOTOR SKILLS

SENSORY INTEGRATION ISSUES • TIGHTNESS • REFLUX • TORTICOLLIS • PLAGIOCEPHALY • NECK PAIN

HEADACHES • ANXIETY • POSTURAL ISSUES • PALATE EXPANSION • TMJ • CONCUSSIONS

CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY & BODYWORK

Before beginning craniosacral therapy, we will review your child's symptoms, medical and developmental history, feeding skills, and sleep habits. We will also discuss your goals for therapy and together create a plan to achieve them. 

 

Craniosacral therapy is provided in a comfortable setting with the patient lying or sitting on a massage table, in the therapist's lap, or while the parent is holding their child. This gentle, hands-on therapy affects the whole body and supports the following:

  • balancing and calming the nervous system

  • improving sensory regulation

  • relaxing fascia tension in the body

  • releasing emotional trauma from birth or other life events

  • gaining range of motion for developmental motor skills & a deeper latch for feeding

Infant receiving craniosacral therapy and bodywork for improvement of motor skills

TONGUE TIES

We will begin with a functional oral evaluation to identify oral restrictions and fascia tightness. Once therapy begins, we treat tongue ties (pre and post-frenectomy) through a combination of bodywork and oral motor work. For optimal results, we will also provide exercises to increase strength, establish functional motor patterns, and improve range of motion of the jaw, tongue, cheeks, and lips for improved feeding. Therapy will also help with the following:

  • improved oral function

  • appropriate latch 

  • suck coordination and endurance for optimal feeding

  • determining the optimal timing of tongue tie release for the best outcomes

  • bodywork to release tension in the mouth and body for improved oral function and feeding

  • monitoring of wound healing

  • teaching stretches to parents for post-frenectomy support

Baby with a tongue tie receiving therapy to help with latching and sucking

We take a collaborative approach to therapy for tongue ties, working alongside your release provider and IBCLC for optimal outcomes.

SYMPTOMS OF A TONGUE TIE

  • baby seems stiff or uncomfortable

  • difficulty with weight gain

  • lip blisters

  • gassy or excessive drooling

  • difficulty latching or obtaining a deep latch

  • painful latch

  • clicking, milk leaking, or chomping when feeding

  • infant falls asleep while feeding

  • requires long feeding times

  • noisy feeding, gasping, choking

  • difficulty with tongue movements

  • reflux or "colic"

  • congestion in infants

  • mastitis or clogged ducts for mother

  • torticollis or head preference

  • head asymmetry or flattening

  • decreased neck strength 

  • difficulty in tummy time

  • difficulty with straw cups or transitioning to solids

  • inability to take a pacifier

  • jaw, neck, or back pain

  • headaches and migraines 

  • articulation issues

THE TUMMYTIME!™ METHOD

Using The TummyTime!™ Method, parents will be coached on how to use tummy time to support motor and developmental milestones. Tummy time helps with the following:

  • neurodevelopment

  • increased mobilization of the soft tissues

  • improved flexibility of oral and upper body musculature

  • support for regulating the nervous system

  • develop neck and upper body strength

  • improved tummy time enjoyment

  • increased engagement during play

  • enhanced motor skills

Parent and baby using the TummyTime Method to support motor developmental milestones

Children ranging in age from newborn to 8 months with torticollis (or a strong preference to turn the head to one side), flattening of the head, tongue or lip ties, overall dislike or lack of experience on tummy, sensitivity to sensory input or movement, or have generalized tension in the body will benefit from The TummyTime!™ Method.

INFANT FEEDING

As a Certified Breastfeeding Specialist, support for both breastfeeding and bottle feeding are integrated into bodywork sessions. We will work on helping you achieve more functional breast and bottle feeding through the following:

  • determining the cause of feeding issues to deliver personalized support to meet your feeding goals

  • identifying oral ties and providing tips for feeding pre-and frenectomy

  • achieving optimal positioning to achieve a deeper latch

  • releasing fascia in the mouth and throughout the body for better tongue motion and control

  • improving oral motor skills and suck coordination for improving milk transfer or bottle feeding

  • decreasing gag, choking, clicking, breaking latch, and taking in air

  • improving endurance

  • improving suck-swallow breathe coordination

Mom and baby breastfeeding successfully after infant feeding therapy provided by a Certified Breastfeeding Specialist

We will also provide feeding techniques and tips for parents to carryover new skills after the session.

CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY & BODYWORK
FOR TODDLERS, CHILDREN, TEENS, & ADULTS

We also work with toddlers, children, teens, and adults to address pain and tension, tongue ties, sensory regulation, body awareness, tactile sensitivity, and overall ease of movement and coordination. Craniosacral therapy can help support improved attention, cognition, processing skills, and executive functioning.

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Sessions take place in a relaxed space with the patient lying or sitting on a massage table. Gentle manual therapy will be used to help address the underlying cause of symptoms. Many patients report that craniosacral therapy is often the missing piece in helping the nervous system to integrate and regulate, as well as to enhance other therapies the patient is receiving.

Adult receiving craniosacral therapy to improve attention, cognition, and processing skills
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