AN
INTEGRATIVE APPROACH TO PHYSICAL THERAPY
Craniosacral therapy was developed in the early 1900’s by the American osteopathic doctor, Dr. William Sutherland. He appreciated the relationships between the bones of the skull and spine, the connective tissue membranes, and the pumping of the cerebral spinal fluid. These patterns of motion and stillness can be used to assess and treat the entire body.
The brain and spinal cord are immersed in a life-sustaining fluid – the cerebral spinal fluid. This fluid circulates to allow for the exchange of nutrients and waste products through a rocking motion originating at the Sphenobasilar junction deep inside the skull. As this joint rocks, the cerebrospinal fluid circulates, and there is a subsequent rocking motion in the dura mater (the connective tissue surrounding the brain and spinal cord) and all of the interlinked connective tissues of the body.
Craniosacral therapy is practiced by a
variety of Osteopaths, Physiotherapists, Massage therapists and other
practitioners who specialize in Craniosacral therapy. The Craniosacral
therapist uses a very light touch in order to feel this subtle motion with
their hands, like a cork bobbing on the surface of the water. By detecting the body’s quality and direction
of internal motion and stillness, the therapist identifies areas in the body
that require attention. This may be at
the head, neck, back, pelvis, legs or anywhere else in the body. Using light
touch and motion once again, the Craniosacral therapist engages the body by
echoing its movements, providing the body with feedback and giving it the
focused attention and space in needs to access its own healing mechanisms,
release stored tensions and injuries, and find healthier internal dynamics.
Craniosacral therapy is a gentle, yet powerful hands-on approach to reestablishing and maintaining your health and well-being. We know about the effects of the big & small daily tensions that grind and wear us down. On a physiological & personal level, letting go of stress is one of the healthiest things we can do for ourselves. Biodynamic Craniosacral therapy allows your body to deeply RELAX.
If you are suffering from an acute injury or chronic pain, Osteopathy combined with Craniosacral Therapy is highly beneficial. It can help relieve:
· Back and neck pain
· Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) injuries
· Migraines and headaches
· Fibromyalgia
· Sports injuries
· Tendonitis
· Temporomandibular joint syndromes (TMJ)
· Arthritis
· Scoliosis
· Frozen shoulder
· Joint instability (sprained ligaments or dislocations)
· Vertigo and tinnitus
· Prolonged surgical recovery including scar tissue build-up.
And many other conditions.As a practitioner of Craniosacral Therapy, my main focus is to help align your spinal column and cranium through gentle tissue releases. In addition, Craniosacral Therapy allows us to assess and release fascial restrictions throughout the body in a gentle and effective way. Each part of your body is connected through fascia, and restrictions in any part of the fascial network can create symptoms to nearby or distant parts of your body. The combination of aligning the spinal column while releasing fascial restrictions allows me to treat the often-undiagnosed contributors to physical pain.
While these changes are occurring in the body, customized Physical Therapy exercises and manual techniques will bring balance to muscle strength and flexibility, protect joints, maintain the new alignment in your body and allow you to return to your daily activities and sports.