Craniosacral therapy
What is Craniosacral therapy?
Craniosacral therapy is a gentle, hands-on procedure in which the practitioner examines the body’s craniosacral rhythm by placing their hands on the client’s head or other parts of the body. Our bodies have different rhythms that can be felt at various parts of the body. For example the rhythm of your breath can be felt at your chest, shoulders, abdomen, hips, and even legs if you are sensitive to its motion. The rhythm of the heartbeat can be felt at the chest, all the way to the fingertips and toes.
Craniosacral Rhythm
The craniosacral rhythm is the flow of fluid (cerebrospinal fluid or CSF) through the brain and spinal cord. This fluid nourishes the brain and spinal cord, bringing nutrients to these areas and taking away waste products. The rhythm of this system can be felt as an expansion as the fluid fills the brain and spinal cord, and a contraction as the fluid is drained away from the brain and spinal cord. Although this flow is through the brain and spinal cord, the rhythm can be felt throughout the body due to fascial connections.
The brain and spinal cord (a.k.a. Central nervous system) controls the entire body. If there is poor flow or ‘sticky’ tissue within the brain and spinal cord, or poor cranial bone motion, this affects the function of the central nervous system.
What types of conditions can Craniosacral therapy help with?
Craniosacral therapy can help with a variety of issues. This list is not exhaustive, but it represents conditions that I commonly use and combine as part of my physiotherapy practice:
- – Anxiety/stress
- – Headaches
- – Post- concussion syndrome
- – Chronic/ Persistent pain
- – Neuralgia (Nerve pain)
As a practicing physiotherapist in Burnaby, I find combining craniosacral therapy improves the outcome of my sessions especially for those with pain as well as high stress and anxiety. Craniosacral therapy is very effective in calming down the nervous system, creating a better balance within the body for physical healing.
What does a session of Craniosacral Therapy look like?
When you receive this therapy at our physiotherapy clinic, I will first start with gentle hands placed at the ankle to assess the rhythm. Depending on where there is a restriction, poor flow, or blockage, I will attend to the area with gentle hands placed on the body. I will also assess the movement of the cranial bones, again with gentle hands on different parts of the head. If there is a restriction or imbalance of movement in the area, I will help the body restore its normal motion.
What can you feel after a session?
Most people feel very relaxed after a full session of craniosacral therapy. Sometimes I supplement the last 10 minutes of my physiotherapy treatments with this technique, and most people will feel more relaxed and rejuvenated after. Each person’s reaction to this therapy is different – some may feel increased pressure or symptoms temporarily, some may feel a sudden release of emotions, some may feel improvement of symptoms after the session. I usually tell my patients to pay attention to how you feel within 24-48 hours after the treatment.
Contact us today to start your Craniosacral therapy in our Burnaby Physiotherapy clinic.
