Physical Therapy for Tongue Ties
Our story
The photo above is a photo of my son when he was about a week old. He was born with a posterior tongue tie, which made feeding him super challenging. Breastfeeding was painful, and he had difficulty with latching. He had his tongue tie released when he was about 10 days old. Getting his frenectomy done made a world of difference, but it took work from an entire team to help him relearn how to use his new tongue and range of motion.
What is a tongue tie?
A tongue tie, also known as anklyloglossia, is the most common type of tethered oral tie (TOT). It is a condition in which a small band of tissue called the lingual frenulum tethers the tongue to the floor of the mouth. Infants with tongue ties have restricted tongue range of motion due to the excess tightness, which can interfere with breastfeeding or bottle feeding.
The TOTs care team
Treating tongue ties takes a team!
Release provider: doctor or dentist trained to perform the release of tethered oral ties.
Myofunction: SLP to help with suck and swallow mechanics and/or an OT or lactation consultant to help with feeding.
Body work: Physical Therapist, chiropractor, or craniosacral therapist to address tension throughout the body and improve range of motion.
Family: The center of it all! All providers work towards supporting the goals and wellbeing of the family.
Why get PT for TOTs?
Because everything in the body is connected! Oral tightness from TOTs is correlated with tightness in other areas of the body. If you notice red skin folds under the neck, difficulty rotating the head, or trouble with tummy time, see a PT for an evaluation. Releasing tension and optimizing range of motion pre- and post-frenotomy can help improve tongue mobility, breathing mechanics, and feeding, and can also help prevent associated conditions such as torticollis, plagiocephaly, and gross motor delay.
What does evaluation and treatment look like?
A physical therapist will first have a conversation with you to learn more about you and your little one’s story. They will then observe your infant’s posture and positioning throughout their body, take measurements of their range of motion, and assess their general gross motor development. We aim for infants to be relaxed throughout the evaluation and for the assessment to look like play! The physical therapist will then prescribe exercises, stretches, and/or activities tailored to your child’s specific needs.
