WHAT IS CRANIAL SACRAL OSTEOPATHY?

The following is taken from The Sutherland Society, a post graduate training course that begun in 1970:

Cranial osteopathy is a refined and subtle type of osteopathic treatment that encourages the release of stresses and tensions throughout the body, including the head.

It is a gentle yet extremely effective approach and may be used in a wide range of conditions for people of all ages, from birth to old age.

Osteopaths may have different specialities including sports injuries, paediatrics, and visceral osteopathy (treating the internal organs of the body). Cranial osteopathy embraces all of these. At the Osteopathic House, Philip (Principal) is cranial sacral trained.
A meta study of manipulative osteopathic treatment including cranial Osteopathy showed babies who are treated cry for shorter amounts of time a day. The study proved that one thing we can say is that babies seem better off with treatment.

https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD004796.pub2/full average 

Masako is a cranial Sacral therapist. The difference is subtle in treatment. For more information on cranial Sacral therapy please see www.ccst.co.uk/about.html

Involuntary Motion- The Cranial Rhythm

Cranial osteopaths are trained to feel a very subtle, rhythmical shape change that is present in all body tissues. This is called Involuntary Motion or the Cranial Rhythm.  The movement is of very small amplitude, therefore it takes practitioners with a very finely developed sense of touch to feel it. This rhythm was first described in the early 1900’s by Dr. William G. Sutherland and its existence was confirmed in a series of laboratory tests in the 1960’s and ’70’s.

Tension in the body disrupts the cranial rhythm. Practitioners compare what your rhythm is doing to what they consider ideal. This shows them what stresses and strains your body is under at present, and what tensions it may be carrying as a result of its past history. It also gives them an insight into the overall condition of your body, for example if it is healthy, or stressed and tired.

Accumulation of stress and strain in the body

When we experience physical or emotional stresses our body tissues tend to tighten up. The body may have been able to adapt to these effects at the time, but a lasting strain often remains. Any tensions which remain held in the body can restrict its free movement. Gradually the body may find it more and more difficult to cope with accumulated stresses and symptoms may develop.

In short it is just another technique to help heal the body and is incorporated in Osteopathy and chronic pain clinics.