Craniosacral Therapy

Craniosacral therapy has the power to improve many aspects of your mental and physical health by relieving the stress placed on your brain and spinal cord. The experts at Fairfield Family Health have used this gentle therapy to help many patients find relief from pain and symptoms caused by diverse conditions, such as concussions, anxiety, and depression. To learn whether craniosacral therapy may benefit your health and well-being, call the office in Fairfield, Connecticut, or schedule an appointment online.

What is craniosacral therapy?

Craniosacral therapy is a gentle, manual therapy that relieves your body’s stress and supports its natural healing abilities by focusing on your craniosacral system.

The craniosacral system runs from your cranium, or the top of your skull, to your sacrum, the bone at the bottom of your spine. It includes the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround your brain and spinal cord.

How does craniosacral therapy work?

Every day, your body endures stress and muscle strain that can tighten the tissues in the craniosacral system. This tightening affects the cerebrospinal fluid, which places tension on the brain and spinal cord and limits their ability to function normally.

Your practitioner examines your craniosacral system, detecting areas of tightness where the normal movement of cerebrospinal fluid is restricted. By applying light finger pressure, your practitioner releases these restrictions or areas of stress. As the tension is released, your central nervous system regains optimal functioning.

What conditions improve with craniosacral therapy?

Normalizing the environment around your brain and spinal cord may help alleviate a broad range of health problems, including:

• Fibromyalgia
• Chronic back and neck pain
• Migraines and headaches
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ)
• Concussion and traumatic brain injuries
• Psychological disorders like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression

 

A study published in the Clinical Journal of Pain found that craniosacral therapy effectively reduced neck pain and improved functional ability for up to three months after the initial treatment. Researchers also reported a significant decrease in pain when patients with fibromyalgia received craniosacral therapy.

What should I expect during craniosacral therapy?

Your craniosacral therapy session lasts about 30 minutes to an hour, although it could take longer, depending on your practitioner’s assessment and the number of tissue restrictions that must be released.

You stay fully clothed while lying comfortably on the exam table. Then your practitioner works along the craniosacral system to locate and release tight membranes.

The full process is explained to you before your therapy and your practitioner ensures you’re relaxed and comfortable throughout the procedure. Most patients notice an improvement after one session, but you may need several to achieve optimal results.

If you have questions about craniosacral therapy or you’d like to schedule an appointment, call Fairfield Family Health.