Cranial Osteopathy

What is Osteopathy in The Cranial Field?
(Also known as cranial osteopathy, or cranio-sacral technique)

It’s a specialised form of treatment which considers that the spine doesn’t just end at the top of the neck. It also recognises the many bones that make up the head and face and the small rhythmic movement between them. These bones fit together like a puzzle, and can therefore become restricted, overlap or warp (as in the case of infants) giving rise to symptoms. For example, restrictions can occur as a result of trauma like a car accident, head injury, difficult birth, or major dental work.

Inside the skull are membranes that guide the motion of the bones, and these membranes extend all the way to the sacrum and coccyx at the base of the spine. This means that the sacrum also moves in relation to the skull bones and vice versa. This can explain why a fall onto the sacrum or tailbone can lead to headaches.

Cerebrospinal fluid (the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord), also has a rhythmic motion that can be sensed. Together, all these movements are known as the ‘cranial rhythm’.

Restrictions can occur in the skull bones, membranes, or in the flow of cerebrospinal fluid. Osteopaths are trained to detect these restrictions and treat them using subtle releases involving gentle pressure on various parts of the body. Sometimes the restricted bones cause compression of nerves leaving the skull — for example, compression of the vagus nerve to the stomach can contribute to colic and reflux in infants.

Biodynamic Osteopathy

Biodynamic Osteopathy arose as an extension of this Cranial approach — when osteopaths began observing forces that were contributing to the healing process that were external to the forces applied by the therapist. In the biodynamic approach, the body’s natural homeostatic forces are acknowledged and encouraged. When you’ve injured yourself, your body seeks to restore itself back to its original state of health, just like a cut heals over. Your body has a natural tendency towards healing and regaining homeostasis.

When there is dysfunction or pain, the body may have lost the ability to heal correctly so to speak. Biodynamic osteopathy helps the body find its original health again, to orientate the body back to normal. It’s less about restricted parts and reduced motion in the body, and more about looking at how well the whole is functioning.

In a way, this is a pure form of osteopathy, recognizing the inherent healing abilities of the body, and applying the practical knowledge that the whole is much greater than the sum of its parts.

Cranial and Biodynamic osteopathy is also very gentle and doesn’t involve manipulations or vigorous adjustments. It is safe for babies, children as well as adults.

If you’re unsure about how osteopathy can help you, please don’t hesitate to call for more information on 3161 2982.