As a gentle, safe and effective approach, Cranial Osteopathy can be used to treat a wide range of problems that may be manifesting anywhere in the body. Because it is so gentle, it is most widely recognised as being a treatment for babies, but is it is equally effective for toddlers, children, adults and elderly people. And as with any osteopathic treatment, because the whole body is involved, improvements can often be seen in different areas. For example, even though the original problem for which a patient sought treatment was lower back pain, it is quite common for digestive problems to be resolved once the patient’s pelvis or spine are treated.
How does a Cranial Osteopath work?
Cranial Osteopaths rely on a highly developed sense of touch, whereby they are able feel subtle changes of the tension and the tissue quality within the living anatomy of the patient’s whole body. Through this process, the osteopath is often drawn to areas in the body that have been affected by past events, for example old injuries or accidents. When there has been a physical trauma the past, the body often finds a way of compensating, and although the patient may unaware that there is anything wrong, the effects of the original trauma and / or or the body’s compensation may be part of the cause of current problems.
With Cranial Osteopathy, as with Osteopathy in general, diagnosis and treatment are very closely linked. The Osteopath works to activate the body’s innate ability to heal itself (think of how a scratch or a cut simply seems to ‘know’ how to heal itself perfectly) and then the Osteopath offers gentle and specific support where needed to bring the body into a state of balance, enabling it to restore itself to full health.
Treating the real cause of the problem
The beauty of this approach is that the Osteopath is listening to, and being guided by, the body’s inner knowledge of what is wrong. And this may be quite different to the patient’s or Osteopath’s opinion. This approach therefore allows the Osteopath to understand and treat the true underlying cause of the symptoms, which will reduce the chance of those symptoms returning in the future.
If you would like to know more, this is a link to an article about Cranial Osteopathy and some of the myths that surround it. The article appears on the website of the The Sutherland Cranial College of Osteopathy, which is just one of the places where Sussex Osteopath Stephanie Witts undertook her extensive training.
Are you looking for a Cranial Osteopath in Hassocks?
Call The Pain Relief Clinic on 01273 04 78 81
Frequently Asked Questions
Cranial osteopathy is a gentle approach used by some osteopaths as part of osteopathic care. It uses subtle hands-on techniques and may be incorporated into treatment according to the patient's needs, preferences and clinical assessment.
It generally uses lighter, subtler contact than techniques such as joint manipulation. This can make it an option to discuss if you prefer gentle treatment, although the most appropriate approach depends on your individual assessment.
The techniques are usually gentle and involve light contact. Stephanie will explain what she is doing and treatment can be modified at any time if you are uncomfortable.
Yes. They do not have to be separate approaches. Stephanie is trained in both structural and cranial osteopathy and can combine techniques where appropriate, based on your assessment and preferences.
People may prefer gentler techniques for many reasons, including personal preference, sensitivity to stronger treatment or because their age, symptoms or health make a gentler approach more appropriate. Suitability is considered individually.
Your first consultation allows Stephanie to take your history, assess you and discuss the treatment options available. If osteopathic treatment is appropriate, the techniques used will be tailored to you rather than applying the same method to every patient.
Call us today on
01273 04 78 81 or book an appointment to see an osteopath here.