Poor posture is the result of a structural issue. It is very common for individuals with tongue ties and/or breathing concerns to have posture problems. Ideal posture is upright with ears over the shoulders. For every inch our head moves forward, an additional 12 pounds of pressure and strain are put on the neck and spinal structures.

Tongue-Tie: A connective tissue issue that pulls the shoulders forward, resulting in forward head posture and shortened pectoral muscles. It effects the body structurally from the top of your head to the tip of your toes because your whole structural system is “tight.”

Breathing: Restricted airways are the result of craniofacial underdevelopment and can arise from structural reasons like a tongue-tie or enlarged tonsils/adenoid, or from environmental reasons or habits such as mouth breathing/poor oral rest posture due to allergies, toxic oral habits (pacifier use, thumb sucking, etc.), and improper tongue rest posture. When an individual struggles to breathe, their posture often changes and the head protrudes forward in an effort to further open the airway. Unfortunately, this perpetuates the cycle of open mouth breathing and often chronic congestion.

Over time, postural issues can result in chronic pain and tension throughout the entire body. Myofunctional therapy can help by identifying a tongue-tie (if present) and helping to retrain muscles and patterns to restore proper tongue and mouth rest posture, and nasal breathing.