Craniosacral therapy
| Craniosacral therapy (CST) | |
|---|---|
| Cranial-sacral therapy Cranial osteopathy Cranial therapy Craniopathy Sacro-occipital technique Bio-cranial therapy | |
 Craniosacral therapy | |
| Alternative therapy | |
| NCCIH Classification | Manipulation and body-based |
| School | Osteopathy |
| Part of a series on |
| Alternative medicine |
|---|
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Craniosacral therapy (CST) is a form of Complementary and Integrative Medicine[1] that uses gentle touch and mindful, non-invasive fascial palpation techniques applied between the cranium and sacrum.[2][3] CST was derived from osteopathic manipulative treatment in the 1970s by John Upledger. Medical research suggests significant and robust effects of CST on pain and function lasting up to 6 months.[4]
Effectiveness and safety
A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of CST for chronic pain involved 10 RCTs of 681 patients with neck and back pain, migraine, headache, fibromyalgia, epicondylitis, and pelvic girdle pain.[5] CST showed greater post intervention effects on: pain intensity compared to treatment as usual; on pain intensity, and disability compared to manual/non-manual sham; and on pain intensity, and disability compared to active manual treatments. At 6 months, CST showed greater effects on pain intensity, and disability versus sham. Secondary outcomes were all significantly more improved in CST patients than in other groups, except for 6-month mental quality of life versus sham. Sensitivity analyses revealed robust effects of CST against most risk of bias domains. Five of the 10 RCTs reported safety data. No serious adverse events occurred. Minor adverse events were equally distributed between the groups.
According to the American Cancer Society, although CST may relieve the symptoms of stress or tension, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that craniosacral therapy helps in treating cancer."
Accreditation and Regulation
The Craniosacral Therapy Association (CSTA) is the leading accrediting body for CST in the UK.[6] In the UK, almost all complementary therapies, including CST, are not subject to statutory regulation but rely on voluntary self-regulation. This means that if a practitioner is not a member of a reputable regulatory body, they do not have to meet any requirements to demonstrate that they are competent and safe to practise.
History
Cranial osteopathy, a forerunner of CST, was originated by Sutherland in 1898–1900. While looking at a disarticulated skull, Sutherland was struck by the idea that the cranial sutures of the temporal bones where they meet the parietal bones were "beveled, like the gills of a fish, indicating articular mobility for a respiratory mechanism."[7]
From 1975 to 1983, Upledger and neurophysiologist and histologist Ernest W. Retzlaff worked at Michigan State University as clinical researchers and professors. They assembled a research team to investigate the purported pulse and further study Sutherland's theory of cranial bone movement. [8][9][10]
Conceptual basis
Practitioners of both cranial osteopathy and CST assert that there are small, rhythmic motions of the cranial bones attributed to cerebrospinal fluid pressure or arterial pressure. The premise of CST is that palpation of the cranium can be used to detect this rhythmic movement of the cranial bones and selective pressures may be used to manipulate the cranial bones to achieve a therapeutic result.[11]
The therapist lightly palpates the patient's body, and focuses intently on the communicated movements. A practitioner's feeling of being in tune with a patient is described as entrainment.[12]
Cranial osteopathy vs CranioSacral therapy
Comparing it to cranial osteopathy Upledger wrote: "Dr. Sutherland's discovery regarding the flexibility of skull sutures led to the early research behind CranioSacral Therapy– and both approaches affect the cranium, sacrum and coccyx– the similarities end there."[13] However, modern-day cranial osteopaths largely consider the two practices to be the same, but that cranial osteopathy has "been taught to non-osteopaths under the name CranialSacral therapy."[14]
References
- ^ https://www.nccih.nih.gov/about/strategic-plans/introduction
- ^ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK67710/
- ^ https://www.iahe.com/docs/articles/CST-in-Journal-Subtle-Energies-Part-1-by-Dr.Upledger.pdf
- ^ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31892357/
- ^ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31892357/
- ^ https://www.craniosacral.co.uk/
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Jakelwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Upledger, John E (1995). "Craniosacral Therapy". Physical Therapy. 75 (4): 328–30. doi:10.1093/ptj/75.4.328. PMID 7899490.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Upledger, JE (1978). "The relationship of craniosacral examination findings in grade school children with developmental problems". The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association. 77 (10): 760–76. PMID 659282.
- ^ Upledger, JE; Karni, Z (1979). "Mechano-electric patterns during craniosacral osteopathic diagnosis and treatment". The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association. 78 (11): 782–91. PMID 582820.
- ^ Seimetz, Christina N.; Kemper, Andrew R.; Duma, Stefan M. (2012). "An investigation of cranial motion through a review of biomechanically based skull deformation literature". International Journal of Osteopathic Medicine. 15 (4): 152–65. doi:10.1016/j.ijosm.2012.05.001.
- ^ McPartland, JM; Mein, EA (1997). "Entrainment and the cranial rhythmic impulse". Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine. 3 (1): 40–5. PMID 8997803.
- ^ Upledger, John E. (2002). "CranioSacral Therapy vs. Cranial Osteopathy: Differences Divide". Massage Today. 2 (10).
- ^ Ferguson, A.J.; Upledger, John E.; McPartland, John M.; Collins, M.; Lever, R. (1998). "Cranial osteopathy and craniosacral therapy: current opinions". Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies. 2 (1): 28–37. doi:10.1016/s1360-8592(98)80044-2.