Bodywork & Craniosacral Fascial Therapy
Bodywork is gentle, hands-on therapy that releases tension in the body's connective tissue so babies and children can feed, move, and rest the way they're meant to. Advanced Therapy & Wellness Center provides OT-led bodywork, including craniosacral fascial therapy (CFT), in Crest Hill, Illinois, often alongside feeding therapy and tongue-tie care.
Tension in a baby's body rarely stays in one place. A tight neck shows up as one-sided nursing. Fascial restriction shows up as a baby who arches, fights tummy time, or can't settle. Release the tension and the skill underneath often follows.
That's why our bodywork is led by an occupational therapist who works in the same rooms as our feeding and speech team. It isn't a spa add-on. It's part of the treatment plan, with a purpose attached to every session.
Signs bodywork may help
- A head-turning preference, flat spot, or tilted head (torticollis)
- One-sided nursing, shallow latch, or feeding that improves then plateaus
- A baby who hates tummy time or arches away from positions
- Tension before or after a tongue-tie release
- Jaw clicking, clenching, or facial tension in older children
- A baby described as "always uncomfortable" without a clear reason
Who it helps
Newborns through school-age children. Most of our bodywork patients are infants referred alongside feeding therapy or tongue-tie care, but older kids with jaw and facial tension benefit too.
What a session looks like
Sessions are calm and quiet. The pressure used in CFT is extremely light, about the weight of a nickel, and babies often relax visibly during treatment. Parents stay right there, and we teach you what we're feeling for so the work continues at home.
We track function, not just comfort: is the latch deeper, is the head turning both ways, is tummy time tolerable? Bodywork earns its place in the plan by moving those markers.
When bodywork pairs with a frenectomy or feeding program, we sequence it deliberately, releasing tension before a release procedure and supporting reorganization after.
What's included
Open any card to see why it matters and what treatment looks like.
Craniosacral fascial therapy (CFT)
Very light hands-on work that releases restriction in the fascia, the connective tissue web that runs through the whole body.
Craniosacral fascial therapy (CFT)
Very light hands-on work that releases restriction in the fascia, the connective tissue web that runs through the whole body.
Why it matters
Fascia connects the head, mouth, neck, and trunk into one system. Restriction anywhere in that web can affect latch, digestion, sleep, and movement, and babies can't stretch it out themselves. Releasing it early prevents small restrictions from shaping big patterns.
What it looks like
Your baby lies on a mat or in your arms while the therapist holds gentle contact points at the head, jaw, and body, following the tissue as it softens. Sessions run 20 to 40 minutes, and most babies stay calm or fall asleep. Many families see changes in feeding or sleep within a few sessions.
Torticollis & postural asymmetry
Treatment for neck tightness, head-turning preference, and the flat spots and feeding struggles that ride along with them.
Torticollis & postural asymmetry
Treatment for neck tightness, head-turning preference, and the flat spots and feeding struggles that ride along with them.
Why it matters
A baby who always looks one way is loading one side of the skull, one side of the jaw, and one nursing position. Untreated, that asymmetry can affect head shape, feeding, and later motor milestones. Treated early, it usually resolves quickly.
What it looks like
We assess range of motion, release the tight side with gentle hands-on work, and coach you on positioning, carrying, and play setups that reward turning the other way. You get a short daily routine that fits into diaper changes and floor time.
TummyTime! Method
Certified TummyTime Method sessions that turn the most-dreaded part of a baby's day into productive developmental time.
TummyTime! Method
Certified TummyTime Method sessions that turn the most-dreaded part of a baby's day into productive developmental time.
Why it matters
Tummy time drives neck strength, mouth and airway development, and the crawling chain, but a baby who screams through it isn't developing, they're just miserable. Usually there's a reason for the protest: tension, reflux, or reflexes that make the position feel unsafe.
What it looks like
We find the reason, treat it, and rebuild tummy time in graded positions your baby can actually tolerate: on your chest, over a roll, on an incline. You leave with a plan that makes tummy time shorter, more frequent, and no longer a fight.
TMJ & orofacial tension
Hands-on treatment for jaw and facial tension that interferes with feeding, speech, or comfort.
TMJ & orofacial tension
Hands-on treatment for jaw and facial tension that interferes with feeding, speech, or comfort.
Why it matters
The jaw is the hardest-working joint in a child's face: sucking, chewing, and talking all run through it. Tension there can undermine feeding therapy and myofunctional work, so releasing it makes every other therapy more effective.
What it looks like
Gentle external work on the jaw, cheeks, and neck, paired with the feeding or myofunctional program the child is already in. Older kids learn simple self-release techniques they can use before meals or speech practice.
Frequently asked questions
What is craniosacral fascial therapy?
Craniosacral fascial therapy (CFT) is a very gentle, hands-on technique that releases tension in the fascia, the connective tissue that runs throughout the body. At ATWC it is provided by an occupational therapist with specialized training, most often for infants with feeding difficulty, body tension, or tongue ties.
Is bodywork safe for newborns?
Yes. The pressure used with infants is extremely light, roughly the weight of a coin, and the therapist follows the baby's cues throughout. Parents stay present for the entire session.
Why does my baby need bodywork before or after a tongue-tie release?
A restricted tongue creates compensations through the jaw, neck, and body, and those compensations don't disappear on their own when the tie is released. Bodywork before a release prepares the tissue, and bodywork after helps the baby settle into new, easier movement patterns.
How many sessions does bodywork take?
Most infants show meaningful change within three to six sessions, though the plan depends on what we find and how feeding and movement respond. This is function-driven therapy, and we reassess against concrete goals every visit.
Is this the same as chiropractic care?
No. Bodywork at ATWC is occupational-therapy-led soft tissue work; there is no joint manipulation or adjustment. We do collaborate with chiropractors, IBCLCs, and release providers when a family's team includes them.
Does insurance cover bodywork?
ATWC is in-network with BCBS PPO, and superbills are provided for out-of-network plans. Call 815-782-4196 and we'll help you check your specific benefits.
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Clare Travers