Cranial Sacral Therapy

What is Cranial Sacral Therapy?

Cranial sacral therapy is a treatment method that works to decompress the bones in the cranium/skull, spinal column, and sacrum. When an injury occurs the bones shift, causing pressure to build up. Cranial sacral therapy is non-invasive and uses gentle manipulations to help readjust the bones, releasing pressure and relieving the pain and discomfort associated with the injury. Cranial sacral therapy can enhance both chiropractic adjustments and massage therapy to provide a well-rounded treatment plan that addresses both structural and soft tissue injuries. It can also be used alone to help elicit a healing response when no visible injuries are present. Cranial sacral therapy often addresses symptoms that appear but have no apparent cause.

How Does Cranial Sacral Therapy Complement Chiropractic Care?

Cranial sacral therapy complements chiropractic adjustments by releasing the pressure that is often present after an injury. The bones of the spinal column, sacrum, and cranium can shift, putting pressure on nerves and soft tissue. The gentle manipulations of cranial sacral therapy help ease the pressure within the structure so the chiropractic adjustment will be more efficient and help the bony structure return to its original position. When combined with massage therapy, the cranial sacral technique helps to rebuild strength as well as relieve pain and inflammation.

Who Founded Cranial Sacral Therapy?

Cranial sacral therapy was founded by Dr. John C. Upledger. Dr. Upledger was a well-known and well-respected osteopath who used many different techniques to create the foundation of principles used in the cranial sacral therapy. By combining different techniques, he was able to create a series of manipulations that could be used to relax the synarthrodial joints in the cranium as well as the vertebral joints of the spine and sacrum. Upledger used gentle pressure to manipulate and adjust the bones to allow pressure and tension to be released.