What exactly is Cranial Osteopathy?“…a refined and subtle type of osteopathic treatment that encourages the release of stresses and tensions throughout the body, including the head.” It recognises the importance of the subtle mechanics that work within the head and its influence on the rest of the body. It is a gentle yet extremely effective approach and may be used in a wide range of conditions in people of all ages, from birth to old age. Osteopaths may have different specialities including sports injuries, paediatrics, and visceral osteopathy (treating the internal organs of the body). Cranial osteopathy embraces all of these. What can cranial osteopaths treat?While it can be highly effective at relieving symptoms, cranial osteopathy aims to treat the whole person not just the condition, so a very wide range of situations may benefit from treatment. These include: Cranial osteopathy for babiesBabies are born with soft spots (fontanelles) where the plates that form the baby’s skull have not yet joined properly together. Once the baby’s head emerges from the birth canal, the plates open up. Fontanelles are the spaces between the cranial bones which are part of normal development; as the bone matures, the spaces fill. Cranial osteopathy recognises that pressure on the skull plates and the fontanelles can have profound effects on the developing child. How can it benefit my baby?Every part of the body depends on other parts functioning correctly. To be in good health it is vital that all parts work well. Osteopathy treats the cause as well as the During a normal labour the baby’s head is able to absorb these stresses; after all, it is designed to do so. These stresses and strains are released naturally afterwards. This releasing process is aided by suckling, crying, yawning and feeding. How safe is it? Will it cause any discomfort?Cranial osteopathy is completely safe. Osteopaths are trained to recognise any major or minor problems and will contact the general practitioner in the event of any uncertainty or suspicion. A full case history is taken, including the mother’s health during pregnancy and any family history of medical conditions – and, most importantly, as much detail about the birth as possible. Examination includes the function of the skeletal structure; gentle feeling of the fontanelles and a detailed assessment of the way the joints of the skull work in relation to each other. The approach also assesses breathing mechanics. The treatment is aimed at releasing strains within the system and the baby often relaxes and sleeps during this calming approach. How do I know if my baby needs treatment?Obvious symptoms are excessive crying, unhappy or unsettled states, feeding difficulties, sickness, colic, wind, and sleep disturbances. Parents are recommended to bring their children for treatment by their ante- or postnatal teacher, other parents, midwife, health visitor or general practitioner – especially following a difficult labour or quick delivery and particularly following an assisted delivery – forceps or ventouse. Will it make my baby sleep better?Many babies will go into a deep sleep following cranial treatment. If your baby has a disturbed sleep pattern, this is often one of the symptoms that quickly improves. What about older children?Some common symptoms affecting older children include glue ear, recurring infections, poor concentration at school, poor bowel movements and some of the symptoms of asthma.
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symptoms. During birth, the body is subjected to enormous forces as it is pushed along the birth canal. The baby has to turn and twist as it squeezes through the bony pelvis.