The Work

What is Cranial Work?

There is a measureable rhythmic pulsation (approximately 6-12 cycles/minute) within, and throughout, the central nervous system contained by the spine, sacrum, and skull, which is accompanied by other longer and slower wave patterns. When the mobility of the cranial-sacral (CS) system is restricted, altered, or disrupted because of injury, symptoms may appear. These can include jaw, tooth, facial, back, and neck pain; visual disturbances, hearing loss, tinnitus, sinus trouble, anosmia, insomnia, Bell's palsy, trigeminal neuralgia, nystagmus, strabismus, and other cranial nerve dysfunctions, various emotional and thought disturbances, etc. Some of these dysfunctions may result from consequent neurological and/or vascular alterations.

What Causes a Dysfunctional Cranial-Sacral (CS) System?

Dysfunction may occur with head, neck, back, or more global somatic trauma, leaving scar tissue and/or traumatic tissue memory. Emotional shock and trauma may also contribute to, or be contained within, these events. This may restrict the CS system's ability to respond freely to its inherent rhythm. Damage can also be caused by a traumatic birth, extensive dental work, a bite imbalance, or chronic bruxing.

Source: api/worldwide

The skulls jigsaw puzzle-like system of moveable bones give upon impact which may, momentarily or permanently, alter skull function and leave distortional movement patterns.

Source: api/worldwide

Boxer shown before the fight.

Source: api/worldwide

Same boxer at the moment of impact.

Treating the CS System

The CS system can be released through specific gentle techniques which are directed at restricted areas, using diagnostic methods akin to "motion palpation" concepts applied to CS dysfunction. Because the body is designed to support a normal functioning CS system, it tends to remain movable once it has been "released." Without this help, not only is the body often unable to resolve these restrictions, it adapts to abnormal movement potentially leading to neurological, vascular, and/or biomechanical and organic complications.

Children and CS Injury

Children frequently suffer from a dysfunctional CS system. A child born in pain may learn to adapt. However, living with pain uses up the child's "buffer zone," which often contributes to one or more of the following: a low frustration tolerance, low anger threshold ("short fuse"), tactile sensitivity, short attention span, insomnia, chronic fatigue, depression, learning disabilities, "hyperactivity", general irritability, and other emotional and/or physical dysfunctions.

Chiropractors have traditionally treated children and newborns for neck and back injuries. These CS modalities carry time-proven chiropractic principles into CS function. They augment traditional chiropractic care for the treatment of childhood headache, earache, neck and back pain, dysunctional sucking, swallowing and latching on, digestive issues, and/or predisposition to upper respiratory infections or allergies, etc.

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