Cranial Therapy Essay
Cranial Therapy — How it works & when to use it
Different theories on how it works
Exactly how craniosacral therapy works is still being explored. Scientific research continues to investigate the existence of the craniosacral rhythm and to distinguish it from the heart or respiratory rate. Research to date has been inconclusive and further study is clearly necessary.
Dr. Sutherland described a palpable rhythmic movement within the body that occurs in the expansion and contraction of the bones of the skull as well as in every cell of the body. He considered this to be part of the Primary Respiratory Mechanism (PRM), the anatomical and physiological interrelationship between five parts of the body: the motion of the brain and spinal cord, the …show more content…
One of the main focuses of clinical research in this area concentrates on attempting to prove that there is, in fact, a palpable craniosacral rhythm. Other clinical studies have examined the relation of disturbances in the craniosacral mechanism to certain symptomatology in newborns, development problems in children, and tension headaches.
Because cranial therapy relates to both the structure and function of the organism it has been used to treat imbalances of the neuroendocrine system, respiratory system, musculoskeletal system, and digestive system among others. Despite the lack of proven efficacy at this time, this technique is used for a variety of conditions, including trauma management, headaches, temporomandibular joint dysfunction, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, sports injuries, menstrual pain, pregnancy-related problems, and for increased well-being and positive health. It is contraindicated, however, in cases of aneurysm, intracranial hemorrhage, and other conditions where altering intracranial fluid pressure is not
Different theories on how it works
Exactly how craniosacral therapy works is still being explored. Scientific research continues to investigate the existence of the craniosacral rhythm and to distinguish it from the heart or respiratory rate. Research to date has been inconclusive and further study is clearly necessary.
Dr. Sutherland described a palpable rhythmic movement within the body that occurs in the expansion and contraction of the bones of the skull as well as in every cell of the body. He considered this to be part of the Primary Respiratory Mechanism (PRM), the anatomical and physiological interrelationship between five parts of the body: the motion of the brain and spinal cord, the …show more content…
One of the main focuses of clinical research in this area concentrates on attempting to prove that there is, in fact, a palpable craniosacral rhythm. Other clinical studies have examined the relation of disturbances in the craniosacral mechanism to certain symptomatology in newborns, development problems in children, and tension headaches.
Because cranial therapy relates to both the structure and function of the organism it has been used to treat imbalances of the neuroendocrine system, respiratory system, musculoskeletal system, and digestive system among others. Despite the lack of proven efficacy at this time, this technique is used for a variety of conditions, including trauma management, headaches, temporomandibular joint dysfunction, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, sports injuries, menstrual pain, pregnancy-related problems, and for increased well-being and positive health. It is contraindicated, however, in cases of aneurysm, intracranial hemorrhage, and other conditions where altering intracranial fluid pressure is not