subject: What is cranial osteopathy? [print this page] What is cranial osteopathy? What is cranial osteopathy?
Cranial osteopathyis aform of treatmentused widely throughout the world and I will try to explain the fundamental principles that apply to it.The term cranial osteopathywas first used by anosteopath called William Garner Sutherland in the early 20th century. Since Sutherland, practitioners like Upledger have developed the theory and new branches have developed such as cranio-sacral therapy (craniosacral).As a result,cranial osteopathy and cranio-sacral therapyare becoming more and more popular around the world and adults and infantsare benefitting from greater awareness of these systems
Osteopaths whouse cranial osteopathy apply a system of diagnosis based on anatomy and physiology .Osteopaths consider the whole body as a unit and all ofits parts need to be nourished byan efficientinternal fluid environment in order to function and combat disease.
Althought the system is called cranial osteopathy, osteopaths consider the body as a wholeand allcomponents of the body must be considered, thebone, the cartilage, the membranes and theinternal environment that is nourished by blood-vessels and nerves.
There are 5 fundamental principles that exist in cranial osteopathy:
1)Inherent mobility exists within the brain and spinal cord.
An inherent motility within the brain, and actively pulsates by curling and uncurling in the way it was developed. This isdue to the way the neuraltube develops in the embryo with 2 anterior sections that invaginate and curl up like a ram's horn to form the cerebral cortex.
2) Fluctuation of the cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF).
The wayCSF pressure fluctuates and the basis of its movement is still unclear. However, for the osteopath the important point is that the changes can be palpated along the whole route of the CSF and restrictions may alter the the body's function.
3) Motility of intracranial and spinal membranes.
The falx cerebri and the 2 tentorium cerebelliare the spinal membranes that form the structures of the intracranial membranes. They are sickle-shaped structures arising from a common origin at the straight sinus known as "The Sutherland fulcrum". These membranesinsert alongpoints around the cranium. The falx cerebri travels upward and forward originating at the internal occipital protuberance, and eventually inserting into the crista galli of the ethmoid bone.The body of the sphenoid is the position where the 2 tentoria cerebelli attach on to. They pass along the transverse ridges and the two converge and insert on theinsert onto the anterior clinoid process. These membranes constitute the reciprocal tension membranes which links the cranium to the sacrum, functioning as a unit around the Sutherland fulcrum.
4) Mobility of the bones of the skull.
Theskull appears to be a solid structure howeverit has zigzag edges called moveable sutures which grow together. In the new-born thesesutures evolve from membranes in the newborn and eventually become joints with slight movement according to the contours of the two surfaces.
5) The involuntary mobility of the sacrum between the ilia.
Thecranial-osteopathic concept considers the sacrum as having an involuntary motility. Since the intracranial and spinal membranes are motile, the lower attachment of these membranes to the sacrum results in the sacrum moving and at the level of the second sacral vertebrathe sacrum flexes and extends.
Understanding thesefive fundamental concepts the cranial osteopath starts tocomprehend the craniosacral mechanism. Knowledge of the anatomy of the cranium, the physiology of the respiratory mechanism and the cranio-sacral rhythm are essential for the osteopath before embarking upon a path of therapeutics that are applicable to a wide variety of ailments.
