Treating Musculoskeletal Tension
- Jul 7
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 9
Try the techniques described or demonstrated below every day for a week. The goal is to steadily relieve muscular tension, loosening tight connective tissue (fascia), and releasing birth strain.
1. The "Webster-Lite" Sacral Release
The Concept: The sacrum (tailbone) houses the pelvic splanchnic nerves that control digestion. Birth strain often locks this area up.
The Move: Lay the baby face-down across your thighs. Place the soft pad of your thumb very gently on the flat triangular bone at the base of their spine (the sacrum). Apply a tiny, circular, feather-light friction rub for 30 seconds.
Why it works: This relaxes the tight dural tissue anchoring the spinal cord, relieving structural tension that sends hyper-reactive spasms to the lower gut.
2. The "Torticollis Untwist" Head Glide
The Concept: Babies who prefer looking only one way often have a jammed upper cervical spine (C1/C2 vertebra), which irritates the nearby vagus nerve.
The Move: Lay the baby on their back. Support the back of their head in your cupped palms. Gently glide their chin toward the restricted shoulder, holding lightly for 5 seconds, then return to center. repeat several times on each side.
Why it works: This gently stretches the tight Sternocleidomastoid (SCM) neck muscle, restoring cervical alignment and reducing mechanical irritation on the vagal exit pathway.
3. The "Pelvic Drop" Diaphragm Opener
The Concept: A crying baby arches their back, locking their breathing diaphragm and tightening the hip flexors, which traps gas in the mid-abdomen.
The Move: Hold the baby upright against your chest. Slip your hands under their bottom, cup their thighs, and gently bend their hips and knees up toward their chest at a 90-degree angle, letting their lower spine completely round and "drop" into your hands.
Why it works: This instantly shuts off the hyper-extended spinal muscles, lengthening the psoas muscle group and opening up space for the respiratory diaphragm to drop and massage the stomach naturally.
Help relax their tight little body
You can complete a decent stretching routine in 5 minutes. Spend a minute or so on each position.
If baby seems uncomfortable, skip to next position. Try to do them twice a day when baby is relaxed and not crying or cramping.
Wiggle Waggle
Opens up area under the ribs and stretches diaphragm
Spine Align
Relax their spine with gentle vertebral stimulation
Side Stretching
Helps gas pockets to escape
Happy Hips
Gentle pelvic and low back stretches
Baby bridges
Gently stretch mid back and diaphragm
Hip Flexor Stretches
Gently relax the psoas muscles
3 Minute Stretch and Massage
Complete routine to relax any baby and cover all the basics
Tummy Time:
Be sure to do tummy time every day, even if for only a few minutes at a time. It helps to activate all the spinal muscles and makes them stronger.
Baby Massage:
A nice baby massage - you don't have to be an expert - is great for stiff and tense babies, no matter what the cause. You can even try a gentle percussion massager on a low setting. Just don't go over bony areas.
Nice Hot Baths:
If your baby enjoys a nice hot bath, give them an extra one!
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