Chiropractic and Yoga Alignment

Craniosacral Therapy

What is Craniosacral Therapy

It is manual manipulation of the cranial bones and membranes to allow the cerebral spinal fluid (CFS) to flow properly.
 
Our practitioner uses gentle hands to knead the 22 cranial bones, membranes, and CSF. This cranial manipulation addresses areas of restricted movement that compromise function to re-establish normal movement, subsequently reducing pain and improving daily functioning.

 

Because the craniosacral system encompasses the brain and spinal cord, it influences the entire nervous system, affecting many body functions. Patients often report a sense of deep relaxation during and after the cranial treatment session and may feel light-headed. These effects are popularly associated with increases in endorphins, but research shows they may be brought about by the endocannabinoid system.

How Craniosacral Therapy Helps in Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)?

The central nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord, has subtle, rhythmic pulsations that are vital to health and can be detected and modified by a skilled craniosacral practitioner. This rhythmic pulsation can be blocked in brain injuries, impeding flow of CSF and reducing nourishment for the brain.

It is postulated that head pain may frequently arise from or be influenced by various soft tissues and neurogenic or osseous structures of the head, neck, and upper body. Pain elicits a heightened response of the sympathetic nervous system that can create a vicious cycle by causing vasoconstriction, ischemia, chemical changes, more muscle contraction, and thus, more pain.

Techniques of craniosacral therapy are believed to improve circulation; release restrictions in joints; reduce tension in the muscles, fascia, and dura mater; decrease nociceptive input; and promote the normalization or calming of the central nervous system in TBI patients.*

*Results may vary; no guarantee of specific results

References

Barke, L., Gelman, S., & Lipton, J. A. (1997). A successful use of cranial-sacral osteopathy in the treatment of post-traumatic headache following subarachnoid hemorrhage. Am Acad Osteopathy J, 22-23.

Craniosacral Therapy. (2011). Physiotherapy & Occupational Therapy Journal, 4(1), 21-23.

Greenman, P. E., & McPartland, J. M. (1995). Cranial findings and iatrogenesis from craniosacral manipulation in patients with traumatic brain syndrome. The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, 95(3), 182-8.

Haller, H., Cramer, H., Werner, M., & Dobos, G. (2015). Treating the Sequelae of Postoperative Meningioma and Traumatic Brain Injury: A Case of Implementation of Craniosacral Therapy in Integrative Inpatient Care. Journal Of Alternative & Complementary Medicine, 21(2), 110-112. doi:10.1089/acm.2013.0283

Helmholtz Zentrum München – German Research Center for Environmental Health. (2018, May 18). Flow of cerebrospinal fluid regulates neural stem cell division. ScienceDaily. Retrieved July 2, 2018 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/05/180518102741.htm

Hughes, J. (2018). Case Report for a mTBI Patient Treated with Intermittent Home HBOT, Intranasal and IV PRP Cocktail, Intranasal Pluripotent Stem Cells from Peripheral Blood, Intranasal Insulin, Cranial Osteopathy, and a Ketogenic Diet.

Hughes, J. (2016). Case Report for TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) Patient Treated with A Protocol of HBOT (Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy),  Autologous Human Plasma, Cranial Therapy, EEG Biofeedback, IV Nutrition, and Adult Stem Cells.

Kozminski, M. (2010). Combat-Related Posttraumatic Headache: Diagnosis, Mechanisms of Injury, and Challenges to TreatmentMADIGAN ARMY MEDICAL CENTER TACOMA WA.

Leder, A., & Yao, S. (2016). Resolution of concussion symptoms after osteopathic manipulative treatment: a case report. The Journal, 116(3), e13.

McCallister, A., Brown, C., Smith, M., Ettlinger, H., & Baltazar, G. A. (2016). Osteopathic manipulative treatment for somatic dysfunction after acute severe traumatic brain injury. Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, 116(12), 810-815.

Moskalenko, Y., Frymann, V., Kravchenko, T., & Weinstein, G. (2003). Physiological Background of the Cranial Rhythmic Impulse and The Primary Respiratory Mechanism. 

Patel KG, Sabini RC. Safety of Osteopathic Cranial Manipulative Medicine as an Adjunct to Conventional Postconcussion Symptom Management: A Pilot Study. J Am Osteopath Assoc 2018;. doi: 10.7556/jaoa.2018.061.

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