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What Is Cranial Osteopathy?
Cranial osteopathy is not different to osteopathy, it is the name given to a subtle and refined approach that follows all the principles of osteopathy, but that includes the anatomy and physiology of the head. It uses gentle manipulative pressure to encourage the release of stresses and strains throughout the body. Cranial Osteopathy applies minimal pressure to the spine and the plates of the skull using very gentle techniques. Our Osteopaths have undergone training as part of their undergraduate degree including paediatrics meaning that they are qualified to work with children and babies.
How does it work?
Cranial osteopaths use a highly trained sense of touch to feel subtle changes of tension and tissue quality in the whole body and to diagnose areas of strain or dysfunction. Your Osteopath will apply gentle pressure on parts of the body and head, allowing tissues to gradually release tension.
The osteopath is often drawn to areas in the body that have been affected by past traumas, such as old accidents and injuries. The body may have learned to compensate and the patient may be unaware that there is anything wrong, but the effects may still be present and relevant to current symptoms.
What does cranial treatment feel like?
Cranial osteopathic treatment is very gentle and relaxing. During the treatment some people are aware of different sensations, such as mild tension, aching or sensitivity that gradually disappear, or of feelings of warmth and relaxation. Other people are unaware of anything happening at all during the treatment but are aware that they feel different afterwards.
What sort of patients or conditions can be helped with cranial osteopathy?
This approach to osteopathy can be used on every patient. In any osteopathic treatment, the whole body is involved and improvements are often noted in different areas and different systems than just the symptomatic one. As it is a very gentle non-invasive treatment it is suitable for people that may struggle to undertake other forms of manual therapy, eg newborn babies, the elderly, and those suffering from chronic illness.