Cranial Osteopathy

Cranial Osteopathy is a refined and subtle type of osteopathic treatment that uses very gentle manipulative pressure to encourage the release of stresses and strains throughout the body. The skilled osteopath has a finely developed sense of touch feeling subtle movement within the body. It is extremely effective in treating a wide range of conditions in people of all ages, from birth to old age.

Babies & Children

It is a common belief that babies and children should have no structural stresses or strains in their bodies, because they are 'so young'. The reality is very different.

Birth is one of the most stressful events of our lives. The baby is subjected to enormous forces, as the uterus pushes to expel the baby against the natural resistance of the birth canal. The baby's head is made up of 22 bones and has the remarkable ability to absorb these stresses in a delivery. The soft bones of its skull overlap and distort to reduce the size of the head as the baby descends. Many babies are born with odd shaped heads, and in the first few days the head can be seen to gradually lose the extreme mould shape, as the baby suckles, yawns and cries. However, this unmoulding process is often incomplete, especially if the birth has been difficult, and especially if the birth involved the use of forceps or ventous. As a result, the baby may have to live with some uncomfortable stresses within its head and body.

Some babies cope extremely well with even quite severe moulding and compression, and are contented and happy. Others however, may display a variety of problems, such as constant crying, irritability, sickness, colic and wind, feeding difficulties, sleep disturbances, sticky eyes.

As the child grows, the effects of retained moulding can lead to other problems such as: recurrent chest infections, asthma, ear infections, sinus and dental problems, behavioural problems and learning difficulties, headaches and aches and pains.
Caesarean section born babies have different problems some are in shock and can be very irritable. Caesarean section babies are inclined to be more mucusy than babies who were born by vaginal delivery because they had no compression through the chest. This can result in ongoing multiple infections of the ear, nose, throat and chest.

Problems Cranial Osteopathy Can Help