No one ever thinks about clubfoot until it happens to their baby.
A mother recently emailed me about her newborn with clubfoot. She was keenly aware of the fascial component and was inquiring about our work.
“We are ecstatic and hopeful that we will see correction without the invasive, forceful treatment from casts and braces. However, doubt still creeps in, and the noise of western medicine and its many supporters is very loud in this world.”
Currently, casting, braces, and surgery are the standard of care for clubfoot. Let’s look at the science of the possible root cause and alternative care.
I am assuming, during the embryonic stage, that both feet are developing normally. In the fetal stage, the foot becomes stuck in an abnormally sustained compressive position for an extended period of time.
The normal fascial web of the leg becomes twisted into that position, resulting in clubfoot at birth. The medical model can easily say the only solution is casting, braces, and surgery. The science says another way may be possible.
The powerful fascial web holds the trauma from conception. If we can revisit that trauma in therapy, we can help restore the fascial web to its former normal embryonic position. In infancy, the web has the incredible power to heal itself.
Since the fascial strains are fresh and the leg bones have not fully calcified, these soft tissues can possibly correct with therapy. As the main technique, I would hold that foot and listen to the fascial strain talk to me.
I would do this every day, many times a day. I would expect a lot of releases, even shaking from the foot up to the leg and body. This strain pattern may be creating other issues like colic, reflux, and constipation.
My suggestion for any parent would be to try our conservative approach first. If no progress is being made, the conventional approach is always available.
My ultimate wish for this infant and all neonates would be to work out all of the strains at birth.
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