| Cranial osteopathy, although well-established, is a | | | | recognised as especially suitable for newborn babies |
| contested issue within the profession; it is not known | | | | and young children, with particularly good results in |
| what proportion of osteopaths are practitioners. | | | | the treatment of colic and crying.[citation needed] It |
| Some medical insurance companies may not | | | | is claimed that as their bones have not fully fused |
| reimburse for 'cranial' treatment due to the lack of | | | | and hardened, they are more susceptible to the |
| awareness of research in the field. | | | | treatment.[citation needed] All in all, this practice |
| Cranial osteopaths are trained to feel a very subtle, | | | | appears to be popular with patients with an increasing |
| rhythmic shape change that is present throughout | | | | demand for experienced practitioners. |
| the head and body. This is known as the involuntary | | | | Craniosacral therapy is based on the same principles |
| mechanism or the cranial rhythm. The movement is | | | | but the practitioners are not qualified osteopaths, and |
| said to be very subtle, and it takes practitioners with | | | | do not have the same depth of training in the clinical |
| a very finely developed sense of touch (palpation) to | | | | sciences and differential diagnosis. Chiropractor & |
| feel it. This rhythm was first described in the early | | | | Osteopath, M.B. Dejarnette further developed |
| 1900s by Dr. William G. Sutherland. The theory | | | | craniopathic techniques inside of a complete |
| underlying cranial osteopathy is rejected by many | | | | Chiropractic system known as Sacro-Occipital |
| osteopaths and orthodox medical doctors because it | | | | Technique or simply "S.O.T."[5][6] |
| was previously understood that cranial bones fuse by | | | | Visceral osteopathy |
| the end of adolescence. However, histological studies | | | | Proponents of visceral osteopathy state that the |
| have demonstrated the presence of Sharpey's fibres | | | | visceral systems (the internal organs: digestive tract, |
| between the adjacent bones forming the sutural | | | | respiratory system, etc.) rely on the interconnected |
| margins, and it is known that these specialised fibres | | | | synchronicity between the motion of all the organs |
| form only at areas where tissue movement is | | | | and structures of the body, that at optimal health |
| allowed. It is, of course, accepted by most modern | | | | this harmonious relationship remains stable despite the |
| osteopaths working within the cranial field, that the | | | | body's endless varieties of motion. The theory is that |
| spheno-basilar symphysis (a large joint in the skull | | | | both somato-visceral and viscero-somatic connections |
| base) does indeed ossify (turn to bone) and the | | | | exist, and manipulation of the somatic system can |
| original principles of cranial osteopathy have thus | | | | affect the visceral system (and vice-versa). |
| evolved alongside increasing knowledge. Cranial | | | | Visceral osteopathy is said to relieve imbalances and |
| osteopathic teaching refers to movement remaining | | | | restrictions in the interconnections between the |
| within the thin bone of the sutures, and that flexibility | | | | motion of all the organs and structures of the |
| within living bone occurs, in contrast to dried | | | | body--namely, nerves, blood vessels, and fascial |
| specimen bones. The brain does pulsate, but some | | | | compartments. During the 1940s, osteopaths like H.V. |
| research suggests this is related to the cardiovascular | | | | Hoover and M.D. Young built on the pioneering work |
| system.[4] The same study looked at inter-operator | | | | of Andrew Taylor Still to create this method of |
| reliability of palpating the 'cranial rhythm' and found | | | | detailed assessment and highly specific manipulation. |
| there to be little agreement, although modern | | | | The efficacy and basis of this treatment remains |
| understandings in the cranial field describe a number | | | | controversial even within the osteopathic profession. |
| of simultaneous rhythms with differing rates, relating | | | | Visceral manipulation was further promoted within |
| to different aspects of function.[citation needed] | | | | osteopathic treatment by Jean-Pierre Barral in his |
| How this mechanism is related to health/disease has | | | | recent series of books on the subject. |
| not been scientifically established. Some osteopaths | | | | While neither cranial osteopathy nor visceral |
| believe that healing dysfunctional cranial rhythmic | | | | manipulation are the mainstay of most osteopathic |
| impulses enhances cerebral spinal fluid flow to | | | | practices, there is increasing interest in both of these |
| peripheral nerves, thereby enhancing metabolic | | | | areas from patients and practitioners alike. Training in |
| outflow and nutrition inflow. Many without direct | | | | Cranial osteopathy in the UK has now reached |
| experience of the benefits of treatment dismiss | | | | validated MSc. Level, which aims to improve |
| cranial osteopathy as pseudo-science. However, | | | | standards and contribute to the body of evidence |
| patients of cranial osteopaths have reported | | | | with research-based studies carried out from within |
| emotional releases, lightness and buoyancy, and | | | | the profession. |
| visualizations. This technique is increasingly being | | | | |