This is a form of therapy using therapeutic touch to manipulate the joints of the cranium and sacrum. The practitioner applies light touches with their hands to a patients skull, face, spine and pelvis.

It was originated by the Osteopath William Sutherland in the early 1900’s. He came upon the idea to treat in this way when on looking at a disarticulated skull he realised that they are comprised of joints which have a ‘bevelled’ edge. All joints have a certain degree of movement and from this he indicated there is an element of mobility in these joints, even once a human has grown to a point where the joints in the skull have fused. Much like the sacrum, these joints appear to be firmly fixed, however, he proposed that there is some movement in them albeit barely perceptible.

With further research over the years, it has been asserted that there are small, rhythmic movements of the cranial bones attributed to cerebrospinal fluid pressure and/or arterial pressure. The premise of the treatment is that palpation of the cranium can be used to detect this rhythm and certain pressures across the skull are used to achieve a therapeutic result.

Many practitioners of osteopathy have studied this particular therapy as an adjunct to their osteopathic training and many of them have gone on to research and study this particular phenomenon. Although current research is still unclear as to how much movement there is and where it is originating from, many patients have benefited from the therapy.

Cranial Osteopathy is gentle, safe and an effective form of treatment for babies and children. That also applies to adults as well, but it is perhaps best known to help children and babies.