Cranial Osteopathy is an integral form of osteopathic treatment. It was developed in 1899 by William Garner Sutherland who found that the 26 separate bones of the head and face, whilst ‘fused’ in adults, do allow microscopic movement. In fact he found that the bones and underlying structures are continuously moving with their own rhythm, much like the inhalation/exhalation of breathing. Unlike breathing however, this movement is beyond our conscious control, and is hence referred to as “Involuntary Motion”. These tiny physiological movements are vital for health, a cranial osteopath has a refined sense of palpation which can be focused to detect these movements as well as the flow of cerebrospinal fluid which protects and brings essential nutrients to the brain and spinal cord.

An osteopath is able to focus treatment on the obstructions to natural movement caused by trauma and injury. He or she can make subtle adjustments improving the health of the patient as a whole. As part of the initial case-history taking to aid with diagnosis, the osteopath will ask about any trauma that the body may have had throughout its life. This may include:

• any dental work or direct trauma to the head or face,
• (for children) details of birth such as the length of labour and method of delivery, or
• indirect stress such as whiplash,

which can create a violent shaking of cranium and injury to the fragile underlying structures.

Cranial Osteopathy and Small Children

The cranium is exposed to this whiplash during birth. The skull of a newborn baby is very vulnerable; the bones are not yet fully developed and have not fused together (this is so that the skull is capable of coping with the compression and trauma of birth). Very often these bones are affected and do not sit in their true alignment after birth, causing areas of tension in the cranium. By adjusting these tensions, cranial treatment has a lot of success in dealing with a wide range of childhood conditions such as colic, glue ear, restlessness and constant crying, ear infections, sleep disturbances and recurrent infection.

Cranial Osteopathy in Adulthood

In later life, cranial osteopathy is used in the treatment of learning difficulties, behavioural issues, ADHD, sinus and breathing problems, tinnitus, jaw and dental pain, headache and migraine as well as a wide range of musculoskeletal injuries. It is also successfully used before, during, and after pregnancy for patients who are in pain but unable to cope with the physical approach of more structural osteopathic treatment.

Although treatment will frequently involve holding and working with the head and its contained structures, the term “cranial” can be a little misleading; indeed, treatment often involves interaction with many parts of the body, including peripheral joints as well as the, sacrum (back of the pelvis) and spine.

One of the core principles of all osteopathic treatment is that the body is a self-correcting entity, therefore treatment does not aim to heal the patient but by removing the obstructions to good health, the body is put in a position where it is able to heal itself.

We are now able to offer cranial osteopathy at our clinic in Uxbridge. If you have any questions, whether for treating a baby, child or adult, please do not hesitate to contact us.