Craniosacral Therapy for Neck and Back Pain
CranioSacral Therapy is a gentle, hands-on manual therapy that releases tensions and restrictions in the tissues and around the central nervous system in order to relieve pain, dysfunction and improve overall health. Although its name relates to the cranium and sacrum of the body, the craniosacral system also consists of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord, as well as the fluid that nourishes and protects these structures.
Craniosacral therapy works directly with the central nervous system, and in turn, the central nervous system has influences over many systems of the body, including the endocrine, immune, lymphatic, vascular, and digestive systems. When disease or dysfunction occurs in one part of the body, it can affect the body as a whole.
Craniosacral therapy works directly with the central nervous system, and in turn, the central nervous system has influences over many systems of the body, including the endocrine, immune, lymphatic, vascular, and digestive systems. When disease or dysfunction occurs in one part of the body, it can affect the body as a whole.
For example, after an injury such as falling on the sacrum (tailbone), damage or scar tissue can occur in the membranes surrounding this area, which would likely present as feeling sore from the injury. However, since this membrane system is continuous to the spinal cord and all the way up to the cranium, additional issues such as neck pain, headaches, and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction often accompany injuries and surgeries that are seemingly unrelated to the initial issue. When the damage to the membranes is addressed, the craniosacral rhythm is addressed as well, and the body is in a much better state to correct these restrictions and rebalance itself.
In cases of neck and back pain, craniosacral therapy has been shown to be a useful treatment.
Isn't it amazing how a non-invasive, light touch therapy like craniosacral therapy can have such an effect at a deep level in the body?
Sources:
Castro-Sánchez Adelaida María, Lara-Palomo Inmaculada Carmen, Matarán-Peñarrocha Guillermo A., Saavedra-Hernández Manuel, Pérez-Mármol José Manuel, and Aguilar-Ferrándiz María Encarnación. (2016). Benefits of Craniosacral Therapy in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 22(8), 650-657. http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/pdf/10.1089/acm.2016.0068
Dariusz Białoszewski, Marcin Bebelski, Monika Lewandowska, Anna Słupik. (2014). Utility of Craniosacral Therapy in Treatment of Patients with Non-Specific Low Back Pain. Preliminary Report. Ortop Traumatol Rehabil. 16(6):605-615. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25694375
Haller, H., Lauche, R., Cramer, H., Rampp, T., Saha, F.J., Ostermann, T., & Dobos, G. (2016). Craniosacral Therapy for the Treatment of Chronic Neck Pain: A Randomized, Sham-controlled Trial. Clinical Journal of Pain, 32(5), 441-9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26340656
In cases of neck and back pain, craniosacral therapy has been shown to be a useful treatment.
- A 2016 study from The Clinical Journal of Pain compared two groups with chronic neck pain. The group receiving craniosacral therapy reported significant and clinically relevant effects on pain intensity in just a few weeks, compared to the other group receiving a light-touch ‘sham treatment’ meant to mimic craniosacral therapy.
- A randomized controlled trial from The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine in 2016 found that patients receiving craniosacral therapy experienced greater improvement in pain intensity than those receiving classic massage.
- A 2014 study found that craniosacral therapy may effectively reduce the intensity and frequency of pain in patients with non-specific low back pain, due to its effects on the resting tension of the multifidus muscle (a thin muscle, deep in the spine, that works to stabilize the joints at a segmental level) in patients with lumbosacral pain.
Isn't it amazing how a non-invasive, light touch therapy like craniosacral therapy can have such an effect at a deep level in the body?
Sources:
Castro-Sánchez Adelaida María, Lara-Palomo Inmaculada Carmen, Matarán-Peñarrocha Guillermo A., Saavedra-Hernández Manuel, Pérez-Mármol José Manuel, and Aguilar-Ferrándiz María Encarnación. (2016). Benefits of Craniosacral Therapy in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 22(8), 650-657. http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/pdf/10.1089/acm.2016.0068
Dariusz Białoszewski, Marcin Bebelski, Monika Lewandowska, Anna Słupik. (2014). Utility of Craniosacral Therapy in Treatment of Patients with Non-Specific Low Back Pain. Preliminary Report. Ortop Traumatol Rehabil. 16(6):605-615. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25694375
Haller, H., Lauche, R., Cramer, H., Rampp, T., Saha, F.J., Ostermann, T., & Dobos, G. (2016). Craniosacral Therapy for the Treatment of Chronic Neck Pain: A Randomized, Sham-controlled Trial. Clinical Journal of Pain, 32(5), 441-9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26340656
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