Cranial osteopathy
Cranial osteopathy is a specific type of extremely gentle osteopathic treatment, which focuses on relieving stress and tension throughout the body. Because it’s such a gentle form of therapy, it can be practiced on people with a wide range of conditions, and is suitable for all ages, from newborns to the elderly.
Cranial osteopathy is simply another ‘tool’ in the osteopathic tool box and is taught to a greater or lesser degree in all osteopathic schools. Cranial osteopaths are trained to feel and interpret a very delicate, rhythmic shape change that exists in all body tissues. This motion, called ‘Involuntary Motion’ or ‘Cranial Rhythm,’ comes about due to the particular movement of cerebrospinal fluid bathing the spinal cord and the pull of the soft tissue connections to the cranial bones. This involves a rhythmical elongation and narrowing, followed by a shortening and widening. This cycle repeats approximately every 10 seconds, and is separate to the rhythm generated through breathing.
Tensions and stresses throughout the body are expressed as a disruption of the body’s natural cranial rhythm. As with traditional osteopathy, cranial osteopaths will perform a thorough case history and examination of their patients, however, treatment will consist of observing and treating disruptions in the cranial rhythm, whether they are due to recent events or as retained tensions due to past incidents including emotional events.
Cranial osteopathy may be of benefit to adults who are afraid of more physical spinal manipulation, particularly when the nervous system is out of balance as with migraine, period problems, and irritable bowel syndrome. It can be a gentle, yet effective way to treat the same musculoskeletal problems presenting to traditional osteopaths such as; osteoarthritis, neck/back pain, frozen shoulder.