FAQ 1

Q. What is cranial osteopathy?

A. Cranial osteopathy is a subspecialty of osteopathic manipulative medicine performed by a physician. This subspecialty deals with subtle motions of the body through the cranial sacral mechanism. It is a gentle and powerful system, part of osteopathic medicine, that uses the patient's own inherent forces to overcome membranous, articular, ligamentous strains in the body. It is a diagnostic and treatment method for soft tissue injuries and especially cranial and sacral structures.

Q. What is the cranial rhythm?

A. It is a cyclic expansion and contraction of the membranous tissues of the body that occur 8 to 14 times per minute. It is distinct from other known pulses of the body, i.e., the heart and respiratory. It can be felt at all parts of the body by a skilled cranial osteopath.

Q. Who performs cranial osteopathy?

A. Cranial osteopathy is an osteopathic technique devised by William Garner Sutherland, D.O., originating in 1899 and popularized in the 1940s to this day. It is a technique performed by osteopathic physicians.

Q. What is cranial sacral therapy?

A. Cranial sacral therapy is the use of manual techniques performed by therapists to unwind membranous articular strains of the cranial sacral mechanism. Originally developed by William Garner Sutherland, D.O., popularized by John Upledger, D.O., and may be performed by any therapist trained in this manner.

Q. ho would benefit from cranial osteopathy?

A. Many patients with a variety of conditions would benefit from cranial osteopathy , primarily persons with soft tissue injuries with membranous articular strains to the head, torso and extremities. It is a part of the osteopathic manipulative medicine physician's armamentarium in treating the whole body from a biomechanical perspective, therefore, a patient suffering from biomechanical dysfunction causing disease such as asthma, sinusitis, ear-nose-throat problems, cerebral palsy, cranial synestosis, plageocephalgy and muscle tension headache would benefit from the use of cranial osteopathy.

Cranial osteopathy works on the basis of unwinding the membranous articular strains that are present in the body thus removing the biomechanical restrictions that prohibit fluid flow, improve circulation and restore normal homeostasis to the body part and structure.

Q. What are the contraindications to cranial osteopathy?

A. Patients with no biomechanical problems and patients with an aversion to being treated or touched.

Q. How does it feel while being treated?

A. The physician places a very light touch on your head, spine and sacrum examining the cranial rhythmic impulse and verifying the areas of the body where the impulse is restricted. The physician gently unwinds the membranous articular strains with his/her hands. When that happens, the patient may feel a slight sensation where the physician's hands are placed, otherwise, there is no sensation of pain or any other activities while he/she is performing these maneuvers on your body.