Cranial Osteopathy
- What is Cranial Osteopathy and how does it work?
- What effect does a difficult birth have?
- What happens if the strain patterns from a difficult birth are not rectified?
- How does Cranial Osteopathy help?
- What is the difference between Cranial Osteopathy and Structural Osteopathy?
- How long does treatment take?
- How many treatments will my child need?
- What can Cranial Osteopathy treat in children?
- What is the consultation procedure?
- At what age should a child be treated?
- Why is my baby crying all the time / not sleeping / having feeding difficulties / suffering with colic?
- Why does my child have recurrent chest infections/ ear infections/ sinus and dental problems/ behavioural problems/ learning difficulties/ headaches, aches and pains / asthma?
1. What is
Cranial Osteopathy and how does it work?
Cranial
Osteopathy is a form of treatment that
releases the body's stress by gentle massage and manipulation. It is a very effective technique for curing many conditions in both children and adults.
There are dozens of bones in the skull, and cranial osteopaths can pick up on the subtle shape changes that are present in the tussue surrounding the skull.
The skull also moves to some degree to allow for these changes, but traumatic births, or head trauma can restrict this movement and cause problems throughout the body. Observing the pulsation through the tissues, an osteopath can assess if such problems exist.
If the bony plates in the skull, or the underlying membranes loose their flexibility or ability to function normally in a relaxed way then we, ourselves, are unable to relax. Hence one of the first tell-tale signs that there is tension in our baby's system is altered sleep patterns. Mobilisation of the skull bones helps subtle tensions to be released in the deeper structures enabling the body to return to a state of physical balance and well being
2. What effect does a difficult birth have?
Birth
is one of the most stressful events of our lives. The baby is subjected
to enormous forces, as the uterus pushes to expel the baby against the
natural resistance of the birth canal. The baby's head has the remarkable
ability to absorb these stresses in a delivery, the soft bones of its
skull overlap and warp to reduce the size of the head as the baby descends.
Many babies are born with odd shaped heads, and in the first few days
the head can be seen to gradually lose the extreme mould shape, as the
baby suckles, yawns and cries. However, this unmoulding process is often
incomplete, especially if the birth has been difficult, and especially
if the birth involved the use of forceps or ventous. As a result, the
baby may have to live with some uncomfortable stresses within its head
and body, called retained moulding.
Some babies cope extremely
well with even quite severe retained moulding and compression, and are
contented and happy. For others, it is a different story, and they can
display a variety of problems;
In babies this may lead to difficulties in sleep, colic and relaxation.
Difficulties during and after feeding may result in discomfort and crying.
The quality and depth of sleep may compound the problems resulting in
distress and exhaustion throughout the whole family
Each of us have a different level of potential in developing skills in
learning, co-ordination, social and interpersonal areas. Children with
a retained 'birth tension' simply do not develop to their potential.
In toddlers, if the problem persists, this tension may lead to temper tantrums, clinginess, bouts of stressful behaviour and recurrent infections, e.g. glue ear or repeated chest infections.
In school children it is often reported that mental concentration or asthma may ensue in addition to difficulties in learning, social behaviour and making friends.
3. What happens if the strain patterns from a difficult birth are not
rectified?
As
the the child grows, the effects of retained moulding can lead to other
problems, such as colic, asthma, glue ear, ear infections, poor concentration
and poor co-ordination, sinus and dental problems, behavioural problems
and learning difficulties, headaches, aches and pains.
In toddlers, if the problem persists, this tension may lead to temper tantrums, clinginess, bouts of stressful behaviour and recurrent infections, e.g. glue ear or repeated chest infections.
In school children it is often reported that mental concentration or asthma may ensue in addition to difficulties in learning, social behaviour and making friends.
4. How does Cranial Osteopathy help?
By
gently palpating the baby/child's body the skilled osteopath feels for
areas of subtle, unnatural resistance. Where there is a blockage to natural
flexibility or yield in the baby/child's membranes or tissues there may
be problems from a previous unresolved injury from birth or any other
trauma. The skilled practitioner will gently be
able to allow the body to correct itself to return to a happy state of
balance and function.
5. What is
the difference between Cranial Osteopathy and Structural Osteopathy?
Cranial osteopathy is the gentle application of
minimal pressure to the plates of bone in the skull and spine. Structural
osteopathy is the manipulation of bones and joints, to help the body to
achieve mobility and muscle balance.
6. How long
does treatment take?
The initial consultation with an osteopath,
in which your child's full medical and birth history is taken can take
up to one hour. Follow-up treatments can take up to 1/2 an hour.
7. How many
treatments will my child need?
On average, 2 to 6 treatments are sufficient.
This varies according to the severity of the problem and the age of the
child.
8. What
can Cranial Osteopathy treat in children?
Cranial osteopathy is suitable for virtually all conditions a child suffers
from, due to its stimulating effect on the immune system, and relaxing
effect on the nervous system. More commonly, osteopathy is known to treat:
- Crying babies
- Feeding difficulties
- Sickness, colic and wind
- Sleep disturbances
- Recurrent infections
- Ear infections
- Asthma
- Sinus and adenoidal problems
- Behaviour problems
- Learning difficulties
- Cerebral Palsy
- Epilepsy
9. What
is the consultation procedure?
After the care history is taken and any medical
or relevant facts noted, the Cranial Osteopath will perform an osteopathic
examination in much the same was a traditional osteopath would, taking
care to assess the mechanics of the body. The Cranial Osteopath may appear to spend time and feel with his hands
the very subtle movement in the skull, spine or limbs. This invariably
requires a period of quiet as concentration is required.
10. At what
age should a child be treated?
The younger the better - it's never too early
to treat. For the best results, treatment should be before the age of
5 years. After this, the stresses and asymmetries cannot always be completely
eliminated, but it is still possible to achieve a greatly beneficial release
of stresses throughout life.
11. Why is my baby crying all the time / not sleeping / having
feeding difficulties / suffering with colic?
- Crying,
irritable baby
Crying, fractious, irritable baby, needs to be rocked to sleep. Prefers to be carried to lying flat.
Reason: The baby may be uncomfortable, with a constant feeling of pressure in the head. This is made worse by the extra pressure on the head when lying down. - Sleep Disturbances
The baby sleeps only for short periods, and may sleep very little in the day or night. Wakes at the slightest noise.
Reason: The tension on the boney and membranous skull keeps the baby's nervous system in a persistently alert state. - Feeding
difficulties
The baby takes a long time to feed, and one feed merges into the next. He/she may be a 'windy' feeder.
Reason: Feeding is difficult and tiring due to mechanical stresses through the head, face and throat. The nerves to the tongue may be irritated as they exit from the skull, which makes sucking difficult. - Sickness,
colic and wind
Regurgitation of milk between feeds, bouts of prolonged crying due to colic and wind. Often worse in the evening.
Reason: The nerve to the stomach is irritated as it exits from the base of the skull, which impairs digestion. The diaphragm may be stressed or distorted, which further compromises both digestion and the ability of the stomach to retain its contents.
12. Why does my child have recurrent chest infections/ ear infections/
sinus and dental problems/ behavioural problems/ learning difficulties/
headaches, aches and pains / asthma?
- Infections
As the child grows, the effects of retained moulding and birth stresses can take their toll on the body's reserves, and also deplete the immune system. This leaves children more vulnerable to all types of infection - Ear infection
Recurrent ear infections, gradually becoming more frequent. Loss of hearing, leads to 'glue ear'.
Reason: Retained birth compression within and around the bones of the ear impedes fluid drainage from the ear, causes poor development of air sinuses in the ear, and partial or complete blocking of the Eustachian tube. Infections never fully clear, leaving a vulnerability to the next infection and a depleted immune system. - Sinus and
dental problems
Persistent mouth breathers. Constantly blocked or runny nose. Later, this increases the chance of dental overcrowding.
Reason: Impaired growth and drainage of the sinuses due to retained moulding compression - Behavioural
problems and learning difficulties
Poor concentration, constant fidgeting, difficulty sitting still, hyperactivity. 'Butterfly' type of child who flits from one thing to the next.
Reason: Continuation of the restlessness as a young baby. Retained moulding compression can make the child uncomfortable in one position for too long - which becomes habit forming. Severe compression can modify normal normal patterns of learning in the brain. - Headache,
aches and pains
Headaches begin age 7-8. Growing pains. Vulnerability to sprains or other aches and pains.
Reason: Retained moulding may focus areas of pressure in the skull, as the bony joints of the skull fully form at around the age of 7-8 years. Postural tensions make other areas of the body more vulnerable to strain and fatigue. - Asthma
Vulnerability to chest infections. Aggravation of all degrees of asthma from mild to severe.
Reason: Retained moulding compression can aggravate a tendancy to asthma. General lowered immunity leads to more chest infections. After infections, the chest remains tense and the ribs may not return to full function, aggravating an asthmatic tendency. Osteopathic treatment to release the birth stresses and to help improve chest function is often beneficial in reducing the severity and frequency of asthma attacks.
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