Osteopathic cranial manipulation, also referred to as Osteopathy in the cranial field (OCF) or craniosacral therapy (CST), is practiced widely by osteopaths, chiropractors, physical therapists and massage therapists. 1-5 While the current scientific evidence does not support the commonly accepted theoretical models of osteopathic cranial manipulation and evidence of the effectiveness of cranial...

Entrainment is the integration or harmonization of oscillators. All organisms pulsate with myriad electrical and mechanical rhythms. Many of these rhythms emanate from synchronized pulsating cells (eg, pacemaker cells, cortical neurons). The cranial rhythmic impulse is an oscillation recognized by many bodywork practitioners, but the functional origin of this impulse remains uncertain. We propo...

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to review the literature for cases of adverse events in infants and children treated by chiropractors or other manual therapists, identifying treatment type and if a preexisting pathology was present. METHOD English language, peer-reviewed journals and non-peer-reviewed case reports discussing adverse events (ranging from minor to serious) were systemat...

A review of the extensive work by dentists Fonder and Smith to resolve temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome shows awareness of the unity of the body and the effect of TMJ dysfunction on all body systems. However, the role of the craniosacral mechanism has not been appreciated sufficiently. Results of a retrospective study of 130 TMJ patients evaluated for craniosacral dysfunction over a 9-yea...

OBJECTIVES The objectives of this preliminary study were to explore: the use of CranioSacral Therapy for persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder, the demographics of participants, and the retrospective interpretation of reported changes related to the intervention. Participants included therapists, parents, and clients. METHODS Recruitment of participants was conducted through electronic social...

The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies is becoming an increasingly popular treatment option for anxiety disorders in adults and youth. Parents often are reluctant to use antidepressants due to fear of potential side effects. Youth are often unwilling to participate in cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) or it is not readily available. Practitioners are not always knowle...

The purposes of this study were 1) to discover the extent to which craniosacral therapy (CST) and myofascial release (MFR) instruction are included in entry-level physical therapy curricula; 2) to determine the amount of faculty and program director interest in such instruction; and 3) to determine what educational materials, if any, are desired. A one-page questionnaire was distributed to the ...