How does cranial osteopathy work?

Cranial osteopathy is part of the general osteopathic approach, using osteopathic manual techniques at the gentler end of the spectrum. These techniques involve sensing a state of balanced tension at the tissues around joints and the techniques date right back to the founder of osteopathy, Dr A T Still. The extension of this approach to the head dates from his pupil, Dr W G Sutherland, who developed and taught the cranial approach to osteopathy from the early to mid-20th century. He used the term ‘osteopathy in the cranial field’ for his description of a rhythmic motion of all the fluids of the body, refuting the idea current at that time that the cranial bones were fused, and described a subtle motion at the head. These ideas were revolutionary in Sutherland’s day but have since been explored in other fields of scientific research (Ueno T, et al. 1998, 2003).

The treatment works in cooperation with the body’s constant tendency towards self-healing and self-correction and involves quiet listening with the hands to the inner rhythms and patterns of function of the body. This listening is very still, and is essential in order to understand where the barriers to healing may be, and to release these using precise positioning or gentle pressure and support. The aim is to support the inherent vital healing process: the osteopath’s role is to nudge the body back towards health.

What may I expect?

The treatment session involves placement of hands on various parts of the body starting from the feet upwards to the pelvis, tail-bone, spine, ribs, breathing muscles and rib cage, shoulder girdles and head as necessary. It is a whole body approach, not just the head as the name implies.

References
1. Feinberg DA, Mark AS. Human brain motion and cerebrospinal fluid circulation demon- strated with MR velocity imaging. Radiology 1987;163:793-799.
2. Grietz D, Wirestam R, Franck A, et al. Pulsatile brain movement and associated hydrody-namics studied by magnetic resonance phase imaging: The Monro-Kellie doctrine revisited. Neuroradiology 1992; 34:370-380
3. Ueno T, Ballard RE, Shuer LM, et al. Noninvasive measurement of pulsatile intracranial pressure using ultrasound. Acta Neurochir. 1998(Suppl)71:66-69.
4. Ueno T, Ballard RE, Macias BR, et al. Cranial diameter pulsations measured by non-invasive ultrasound decrease with tilt. Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine. 2003;74(8):882-85.