Cranial Osteopathy in Brighton, East Sussex
What is Cranial Osteopathy?
Cranial osteopathy manipulates the connective tissues and the skeleton, especially the sacrum and skull. It is based on the theory that the central nervous system has rhythmic and cyclical pulsations that are important to health. The rhythm can be felt like a pulse, and manipulated by a skilled practitioner.
While the word “cranial” refers to the head, other body parts such as the tailbone and spine might be involved. A cranial osteopath applies gentle pressure in various areas to stimulate the release of stress in your body.
Like all forms of osteopathy, the treatment works on the relationship between the body’s function and structure. Cranial osteopathy is mostly associated with the treatment of babies, but it is effective in treating dysfunctional adults and children alike. It is useful in reducing tension and improving general circulation, allowing the body to function at an optimum level.
What Conditions Are Treated with Cranial Osteopathy?
Stress and fatigue
Most people are exposed to physical trauma at some point in their life. Initially, the body copes well, but the strain remains. The accumulation of this lasting strain shows after a while. Adults who struggle with stress, chronic fatigue and general ill health benefit from cranial osteopathy.
Headaches
Not only are there several causes of headaches, there are also many different types, and cranial osteopathy is an effective treatment for a lot of them. Your osteopath gently massages tight muscles to loosen the joints of your back, neck and thorax. It also relieves tension buildup, a known cause of headache. Cranial osteopathy is also an effective treatment of chronic migraine.
Arthritis
Some types of arthritis cause pain. The gentle manipulation of cranial osteopathy helps arthritis sufferers. Your physical therapist gently moves and stretches the affected joint, surrounding tissues and muscles to ease discomfort.
Neck pain
Some headaches are caused by neck stiffness and tension. Age-related wear and tear also cause muscular pain in the shoulders and neck. Cranial osteopathy offers relief from neck pain.
What Is the Difference between Cranial Osteopathy and Craniosacral Therapy?
Both therapies originate from the work of American osteopath, William Garner Sutherland. During the first half of the 20th century, cranial osteopathy was only taught in osteopathic colleges. Cranial osteopaths train as osteopaths first, then focus on the cranial concept as a further specialty.
Craniosacral therapists do not have the same qualifications. Many experts believe craniosacral therapy is derived from John Upledger’s methods. He developed his own approach and taught it to non-osteopaths.
Upledger wasn’t teaching physicians, nor did he teach diagnosis, or how to apply specific approaches to specific conditions. Craniosacral therapists are unable to handle the side-effects of treatment due to their lack of osteopathic training.
Does Cranial Osteopathy Help Babies?
Babies respond well to cranial techniques. A new baby often experiences trauma from the stress of labour. This causes bruising or odd-shaped heads. In most cases, it recedes after a few days but the unmoulding process is sometimes left incomplete.
A cranial osteopath places their hands on a baby’s body to feel for gentle expansion and contraction of tissues. Careful manipulation of these tissues helps the child feel more comfortable. It is non-invasive and rebalances the baby’s body to perform effectively.
Symptoms parents should look out for include vomiting after feeds, latching on, an aversion to wearing hats or lying on their back because of an asymmetrical head, recurrent chesty conditions and behavioural issues.
What are the Side Effects of Cranial Osteopathy?
You might experience soreness the next day. Common experiences include electrical sensations and spontaneous adjustments. Your body should stabilise either the same or the following day. You might also feel inclined to rest more after treatment. Avoid heavy impact exercise or overexerting yourself after treatment.
Cranial Osteopathy Near Me
Hove Osteopath offers cranial osteopathic manipulation to residents of Brighton, Hove and nearby areas. Treatment begins with a physical examination to diagnose your condition and determine the best course of treatment to facilitate natural healing. Call 0000000000 to get started today.