What is Cranial Osteopathy?

The head is made of up of over 20 bones. These bones allow a small but important rhythmic movement of the skull to occur. This rhythmic movement is separate from the heartbeat and breathing, it is called the cranial rhythm or primary respiratory mechanism.

Inside the skull there are membranes that guide the motion of the bones. These membranes extend down the spinal canal to the sacrum (the bone at the base of the spine). Thus the sacrum moves in relation to the skull movement. A rhythmic motion of the cerebrospinal fluid also occurs with the cranial rhythm.

Restrictions can occur in the movement of the bones, membranes or flow of the cerebrospinal fluid. These restrictions can be caused by trauma to the head, (e.g. car accidents, falls, childbirth,) sacrum (falls onto bottom, during pregnancy and delivery) or due to shock or ill health.

When the movement is restricted it can affect the function of nerves that pass through the membranes, between the bones or through holes in the bones, the general function of the central nervous system, the drainage of blood from the skull, and the movement of the sacrum and low back.

Cranial osteopaths will commonly treat infants and children for mis-shapen heads, colic, recurrent ear infections, attachment and feeding problems, eye disorders, (e.g. lazy eye), constipation, and attention deficit disorder.

Adults commonly seek treatment for headaches and migraines, face pain, following head trauma, emotional instability, concentration problems, sinus problems, low back complaints, period pains, hormonal problems, back pain during pregnancy and post natal depression.

Treatment involves very gentle assessment of the cranial rhythm and gentle release of any restrictions. It is safe for all ages from new-borns to the elderly.

Case study one:

Alex was three years old when he came to see me. He had been born prematurely at 24 weeks and against the odds had survived. He developed normally, except that he had terrible constipation. He had been on laxatives for over 2 years and was extremely fussy with food.

On examination Alex was found to have marked compression through the base of his skull. This was apparent visually with the bottom of his skull appearing small in relation to the top of his head.

This is a common appearance with compression through the base of the skull as the vault (top of the head bones) compensate for the lack of movement by moving more, giving the appearance of a large head.

Compression of the base of the skull was affecting the nerve supply to the digestive system (via the vagus nerve). Cranial treatment helped reduce the compression. Alex began to go to the toilet normally and his laxatives were gradually reduced. It took a while for his eating habits to improve, but gradually his diet did improve. Alex had 8 osteopathic treatments spread over 12 weeks.

It is common for premature babies to have increased compression through the skull as the bones are softer at birth and they loose the protective fluid environment provided in utero.

Case study two:

Olivia was 14 months when she was brought to see me. She had had recurrent ear infections since birth and had had six courses of antibiotics to date.

Olivia was born at 41 weeks. The labour had been long with Olivia arriving in a posterior presentation. No assistance was required for the delivery.

On examination Olivia had marked restriction of her sphenoid and temporal bones. These bones are very important in relation to the ear. This is because the Eustachian tube attaches to both bones. The Eustachian tube is the drainage for the middle ear. In the child the tube runs more horizontally and thus relies on the movement between the sphenoid and temporal bones to create a pumping effect to aid drainage. As a child grows the face elongates and the tube runs more vertically, thus aiding drainage. This is why ear infections are much more common in children than adults.

Cranial osteopathic treatment was given to Olivia. This helped improve the drainage from the ear and greatly reduced the amount of ear infections she had. In many case like Olivia, grommets are used to help resolve the problem. In Olivia’s case this was not required.