What Is Cranio-Sacral Therapy?
What is the Cranio-Sacral Unit?
The cranio-sacral unit consists of the cranium, brain, spinal cord and the wedge-shaped sacrum bone at the end of the spine. Also, it consists of the fascia that surrounds the cranium inside and outside, as well as the cranial nerves and blood vessels. All of these structures work together to act as a single unit.
What is Cranio-Sacral Rhythm?
The brain and sacrum are connected by the spinal cord. The cerebral spinal fluid flows around the brain and then down around the spinal cord. The sacrum slightly rocks, creating a wavelike motion in the fascia and causing the cerebral spinal fluid to flow back up to the bathe, protect and nourish the central nervous system. The normal cranio-sacral rhythm is 6-12 cycles per minute.
What is Cranio-Sacral dysfunction?
Cranio-sacral dysfunction can result in various physical injuries, inflammation, infections, and structural imbalances. Common imbalances are dental malocclusions, which causes TMJ and leg length discrepancies/pelvic rotation which causes SI Dysfunction. Such problems alter the normal cranio-sacral rhythm which results in pain.
How Physical Therapy Can Help?
Your body endures daily stresses and strains that, with time, can cause tissues to tighten and distort the cranio-sacral system. These distortions can then cause restrictions in the brain or spinal cord if tensions continue to form. Our physical therapists can detect and prevent against such restrictions through a cranio-sacral evaluation. The therapist will use gentle touch to various locations of your body to test for the ease of motion and rhythm of the cerebrospinal fluid pulsing around your brain and spinal cord. This subtle manual therapy technique is designed to detect imbalances in the cranio-sacral rhythm and then restores it to the bodies natural rhythm.
For more information about cranio-sacral treatment, please feel free to call or contact us. Our team is made up of enthusiastic, hands-on providers who offer a comprehensive range of services. We look forward to giving you the care you deserve.