Cranial osteopathy uses subtle movements of the cranium and sacrum to relieve strain and tension patterns in the body.
While it is common place to think of a joint as something with a wide range of movement, like a hip or shoulder, it is probably not as well known that the human skull also has joints. In this case they are known as sutures, or joints with a small level of expansion and contraction available. Like other joints they can become restricted or strained.
As a gentle technique, it is especially helpful in the treatment of babies and young children, as well as adults. The movements used by the osteopath are very small and the pressure applied very light, so that the patient may not even be aware of any movement. Treatment is generally applied to areas around the head, neck and low back areas. However, the term cranial osteopathy may be slightly misleading as it may be used in the treatment of other areas of the body, other than the head and neck alone.