The tongue is a very dynamic structure. It is the only muscle (or group of muscles) that has a freely moveable end. Myofunctional therapists and others emphasize the importance of the tongue being able to rest on the palate during its resting state for proper craniofacial development. Tongue ties have been found to anchor the tongue to the floor of the mouth making it physically difficult for the tongue to rest against the roof of the mouth properly. By naturally resting on the palate, a normally developed tongue widens and brings down the palate. Babies with tethered tongues are commonly…
The tongue muscle is a group of muscles that work unlike any other muscle we have in our body. It has a free end and resembles the tentacles of an octopus. It is the most dynamic and strongest muscle in our head. We use it to speak, swallow, and breathe. We don’t survive as a species if we can’t swallow. We know that proper swallowing mechanics promotes normal craniofacial development. Breastfeeding encourages proper tongue mechanics. A reverse swallowing mechanism (aka – tongue thrust) promotes a narrow, high palate and jaw that is often linked with bigger problems such as obstructive…
Introduction Flexibility gives an athlete power through a range of motion that they don’t have otherwise. Without flexibility not just range of motion is lost, but it also requires a lot of effort for muscles when they are at the edge of that range of motion. I was not born with natural flexibility. For the longest time I was convinced that stretching didn’t work. When it comes to the traditional methods of stretching, I still feel that way, but I’m going to share with you something new I discovered recently. In Part I of this series, we discussed airway and…
Introduction I grew up a competitive swimmer. I started at the age of 5 and swam competitively for 17 years all the way through college. Being a swimmer, I became very self aware of my body. I had a lot of bodywork done. I knew of my strengths, weaknesses, and asymmetries. Even though I worked hard, I always felt like I was capable of more but I didn’t know how to get there. Having spent my career studying the human body, there are top three things I wish I knew about when I was an athlete… and, no, nutrition is…
Two Opposing Models? The medical profession has historically operated with the model that health can be achieved solely as a series of biochemical reactions. “Better living through chemistry” is a common quote that can be found in relation to this. Historically, osteopathic physicians (D.O.’s) have been attacked and dismissed for practicing “manual medicine.” D.O.’s argued that they operate on a different aspect of health by optimizing the structure. Critics have complained that there is “no evidence” for this model. Science is showing more and more the plausibility of this in other fields besides osteopathy. The goal with this article is…
If you’re looking to improve your memory and learn anatomy at the same time, then you’ve come to the right place. In this video, you will learn memory strategies to learn the bones of the skull and where they are. Not only will this help your brain, but you’ll learn the anatomy in a easier, more efficient way. This video is the foundation for learning more complex cranial anatomy using unique memory strategies. Leave a comment below if you want to be notified of future anatomy videos building on this topic. Have fun and let me know how you did….
Have you ever heard of synesthesia? There is a small percentage of people who perceive their world in a unique way. They combine different senses at a time. For example, when your read this, you may see the words as black print on the page. Some see a different color for each letter. Another example might be seeing colors when one hears sounds. There are many combinations that senses can be combined. Synesthesia allows people who see the world this way to find unique patterns and make connections that others may not be able to. Since 2018 is the “Year…
I have to post this for those who work and deal with tongue ties. I have a question regarding tongue ties. Why do we diagnose tongue ties using motions that are completely irrelevant to the actual tongue function? When we diagnose a tongue tie, we either pull the tongue straight out of the mouth or we put the tip of the tongue to the roof of the mouth with the mouth open as far as it will go. The problem with either of these methods of diagnosis is that neither one is actually a motion that we do with our…
This year I have decided to dedicate myself to developing my mind. Thus, I have dubbed 2018 “The Year of the Mind.” I’ve never done a New Year’s resolution and don’t necessarily consider this to be that. Developing my mind beyond anything I ever thought possible will be my focus this year and will continue long after this year. I have spent time developing my mind in the past, but not to the level I’m planning on this year. I welcome those who wish to join me with all or some of the things I’m doing below. Being an osteopathic…
What is a tongue tie? Do you or possibly your children have tongue ties? Is there any reason to do anything about it? In this episode, Daniel Lopez, D.O. interviews registered dental hygienist and oral myofunctional therapist, Sarah Hornsby. This video discusses the controversial topic of tongue ties (aka – ankyloglossia) covering many questions related to tongue ties for children and adults. Tell the audience about yourself? How did you get to doing oral myofunctional therapy? (01:50) What do oral myofunctional therapists do? (04:30) Who is your ideal client base and what kinds of problems do people come to your…
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