FMCM for Gross Motor Skills
FMCM for Gross Motor Skills
Delays in Walking
As parents, caregivers, educators, and therapists, we understand that every child is unique, and their growth unfolds at its own rhythm. While some little ones effortlessly conquer physical milestones, others may face challenges along the way. Gross motor delays, encompassing difficulties in actions such as crawling, walking, running, and jumping, can impact a child’s overall physical development and may require support and guidance.
Gross motor delays in children can stem from numerous factors. The standard medical model states that this delay can be influenced by genetic factors, premature birth, and/or neurological conditions. Indeed, these can be reasons for developmental delays; however, there is one crucial reason that is missing from the standard model’s list…
Tight fascia.
Could it be as simple as tight fascia?
Absolutely!
Through our clinical experience with over 3,000 patients, we know that the fascial matrix records ALL the elements related to a difficult, traumatic, or stressful event from conception and on. All events are imprinted, even those that seem inconsequential. The matrix holds the memory of the trauma creating a cascade of compressions through the rest of the body, which eventually leads to imbalances and dysfunction.
A Slow Birth
Case Story
Although birth is a natural and wondrous event, the fetus can face compressions, pulls, and twists to the connective tissue structure during the birth experience.
Historically, the stresses of the birth experience are accepted as “normal” or “that is just the way it is” however, the process in which a fetus can navigate his/her birth creates a lifelong effect on the infant’s structure.
A family contacted us for help with their fifteen-month-old daughter who was not able to walk yet, nor was she making any attempt to move through the stages towards that milestone. The parents reported that she did not crawl appropriately but was mobile through “bottom scooting.” The child was unable to pull herself up to a standing position, nor did she make any efforts to move into an upright posture. She made little attempt to play and interact with her siblings.
Another detail of the parent’s subjective that was important to note was that the child was having issues with severe constipation. In the fascial matrix model, the digestive system health and lower body matrix are linked and dependent on being free from compressions.
The prenatal history revealed nothing compelling; however, the child’s birth was described as extremely slow.
In our clinical research, we have found that a birth that is “slow” or “fast” can equally have certain impacts on the weave of the fascial matrix and is unique to the individual. For this child, the slow birth may have caused soft tissue fascial compressions in the newborn’s body. When left untreated, these compressions imprint and become imbedded into the connective tissue causing a child to compensate around the problem. They may interfere with developmental milestones such as creeping and crawling, standing, walking, and speech. The child must work with the restrictions that have already been established within.
Upon evaluation, we assessed that the young girl presented with extremely low muscle tone in her lower body only and we could see a disconnect from her sacrum to her legs. During the first session, we addressed the fascial strain that was held in her lumbar tissues and the pattern that rippled into her legs and feet.
At the second session, the mother reported that her daughter had become more mobile and was taking more initiative to play and interact with the family.
Because FMCM addresses the layers of the fascial web, session two included more work on the lumbar strains which were directly connected to her legs and feet.
A week later we received an update of this child’s progress. After a few days of integration, she began crawling appropriately, as well as pulling herself up and walking along the furniture. Additionally, her digestive system improved, and she was moving her bowels more comfortably.
It appeared that the child sustained soft tissue compressions during her birth process. Fascial compressions can create a significant amount of pressure and dysfunction with any organ, nerve, muscle, or vessel that runs in its path. It was easy to see how the lower body fascial compressions impacted both mobility and digestion – two issues from one compression.
In current thinking, lack of mobility or low muscle tone may strongly indicate a neurological issue, but maybe some children are just tight. Every child is unique, and each body holds its own extraordinary story. A collaborative approach, traditional methods accompanied with a target on tight fascia, can help children thrive and succeed in their physical milestones.
Our hope is that more children can have access to this innovative modality, FMCM, where they can freely explore, play, and grow, embracing their innate potential, and enjoy a lifetime of movement and joy.
Michael and Kristen Myers, LMT, June 2023©
At the Myers Institute®, we specialize in the Fascial Matrix Connection Method® and Somatic Movement Therapy (The Matrix in Motion). This holistic approach to wellness emphasizes the healing potential of the facial matrix. With over twenty-one years of practice, our methods provide a comprehensive path to a rebalanced overall wellness by focusing on the intricate network of the connective tissue system and the body’s natural movement.
Fascial Matrix Connection Method® and The Matrix in Motion are intended to serve as an adjunct to medically supervised healthcare. This article is not designed for and does not provide medical advice. All content in this article is for general information purposes only. The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical or mental advice or care. You should consult with a healthcare provider for diagnosis and collaborative treatment. Michael Myers, Kristen Myers, and the Myers Institute ® are not responsible for any adverse effects or consequences resulting from the method discussed within the information of this article.
