Craniosacral Research Blog
The cranial rhythmic impulse and excessive crying of infancy.
A 2009 study with a final sample of 139 patients aimed to “examine whether an abnormal CRI is associated with excessive crying of infancy.” Results show “Infants with an abnormal CRI at 2 weeks were 6.8 times (95% confidence intervals 2.2, 20.6) more likely to develop excessive crying than infants with a normal CRI.” Conclusions of the study “suggest that an abnormal CRI at 2 weeks of age may be associated with excessive crying.”
ACCESS TO ONLINE PUBMED ABSTRACT
PAID ACCESS TO FULL TEXT ONLINE
References:
Research: Paul V. Kotzampaltiris, Katherine J. Chou, Stephen P. Wall, and Ellen F. Crain. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. April 2009, Vol. 15, No. 4: 341-345
Utility of Craniosacral Therapy in Treatment of Patients with Non-specific Low Back Pain. Preliminary Report.
A 2014 preliminary report of a study aimed to “examine the utility of craniosacral therapy techniques in the treatment of patients with lumbosacral spine overload and to compare its effectiveness to that of trigger point therapy, which is a recognised therapeutic approach.” The study consisted of 55 participants between the ages of 24 to 47 with low back pain due to overload only. Conclusions of the study: “1. Craniosacral therapy and trigger point therapy may effectively reduce the intensity and frequency of pain in-patients with non-specific low back pain. 2. Craniosacral therapy, unlike trigger point therapy, reduces the resting tension of the multifidus muscle in patients with non-specific lumbosacral pain. . . 3.Craniosacral therapy and trigger point therapy may be clinically effective in the treatment of patients with non-specific lumbosacral spine pain.”
ACCESS TO ONLINE PUBMED ABSTRACT
References:
Research: Dariusz Białoszewski, Marcin Bebelski, Monika Lewandowska, Anna Słupik. Ortop Traumatol Rehabil 2014; 16(6):605-615
Treating the Sequelae of Postoperative Meningioma and Traumatic Brain Injury: A Case of Implementation of Craniosacral Therapy in Integrative Inpatient Care
A 2015 case study showing the use of craniosacral therapy to help a 50 year old female with refractory headaches, vertigo, and cervicobrachial syndrome following and traumatic brain injury. The results of this study show that “implementation of CST in integrative inpatient care could benefit patients with headache and vertigo from intracranial injuries.”
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References:
Case Study: Haller H, Cramer H, Werner M, Dobos G. Treating the Sequelae of Postoperative Meningioma and Traumatic Brain Injury: A Case of Implementation of Craniosacral Therapy in Integrative Inpatient Care. J Altern Complement Med. 2015 Jan 21.
The impact of myofascial and craniosacral techniques and their effectiveness in negating the development of thoratic outlet syndrome on a woman in her first pregnancy
A 2013 case study showing the use of craniosacral and myofascial techniques to help a 31 year old female with thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) during pregnancy. “The results of this study indicate that massage therapy, specifically focusing on craniosacral therapy and myofascial releases integrated with general Swedish massage, are effective modalities in treating TOS related to pregnancy.“
References:
Case Study: Cowie, TS. The impact of myofascial and craniosacral techniques and their effectiveness in negating the development of thoratic outlet syndrome on a woman in her first pregnancy. MTABC; 2013; April.
Craniosacral Therapy for the Treatment of Chronic Neck Pain: A Follow-up Study
A 2014 follow-up study “aimed to report on follow-up data of a randomized controlled trial in chronic non-specific neck pain patients” with 54 individuals experiencing chronic non-specific neck pain. “Study results indicate that Craniosacral Therapy is more effective in relieving chronic non-specific neck pain and in improving physical quality of live than an active attention-control condition, even 3 months post intervention.”
References:
Research: Haller Heidemarie, Lauche Romy, Cramer Holger, Rampp Thomas, Saha Felix J., Ostermann Thomas, and Dobos Gustav J.. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. May 2014, 20(5): A18-A18.
Benefits of Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy Results of an International Client Survey
A 2013 survey coordinated by the Centro Biodinamica Craniosacrale C.B.C. to assess the efficacy of biodynamic craniosacral therapy treatments on a large international group of clients and students. 237 interviews were conducted over a 6 month period. Interviewees needed to have a minimum of 5 BCST sessions to participate. The conclusion suggests that “91% of interviewees reported that the process significantly facilitated the improvement of their health” and that more research is needed to confirm the informal positive findings attained.
References:
Survey: Casartelli, P., Grandis, A. “Benefits of Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy Results of an International Client Survey”. http://www.centro-craniosacrale.it/wpcbc/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Benefits-of-Biodynamic-Craniosacral.pdf. 2013.
Image: Samantha Lotti
Heart rate variability and the influence of craniosacral therapy on autonomous nervous system regulation in persons with subjective discomforts: a pilot study.
A 2014 quasi-experimental (controlled) study with cross-over design with 31 individuals. Results suggest: “Both control rest and the intervention gave significant increase of SDNN, but while the increase was +15% (P < 0.05) in the control period, it was +32% (P < 0.05) in the test period. TP value did not increase significantly in the control period (+19%; P > 0.05), but showed high significance in the test intervention period (+126%; P < 0.01)…. A highly significant decrease in heart rate (P < 0.01) was observed after the CST as compared to that after the rest period.”
References:
Research: Girsberger W, Bänziger U, Lingg G, Lothaller H, Endler PC. “Heart rate variability and the influence of craniosacral therapy on autonomous nervous system regulation in persons with subjective discomforts: a pilot study.” J Integr Med. 2014 May;12(3):156-61.
Case Study in Pediatric Asthma: The Corrective Aspect of Craniosacral Fascial Therapy.
A 2008 case study showing how craniosacral fascial therapy helped a 9-year-old boy with asthma who developed respiratory symptoms at two months of age. “Exactly five weeks after this treatment started, his asthma doctor reexamined him. She found his lungs to be clear of any wheezing or other obstructions. His peak flow meter readings were between 275 and 300 Liters/minute, which were in an acceptable range for him. The physician recommended that at this point there was no need for any further asthma medication. ”
References:
Case Study: Gillespie, BR. Case Study in Pediatric Asthma: The Corrective Aspect of Craniosacral Fascial Therapy. Explore (NY). 2008; Jan-Feb;4(1):48-51.
Case study in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: the corrective aspect of craniosacral fascial therapy.
A 2009 case study showing how craniosacral fascial therapy helped a 27-month-old boy with “extreme hyperactive behavior.” After treatment “His mother said he became a different child. He was calmer and more attentive and ceased his head banging, screeching, and ear pulling. He also stopped biting other children and picking at his arm. His speech improved dramatically after the first three visits by enunciating his words more clearly and speaking in coherent sentences. She was able to now touch his head with activities such as hair washing and combing. At his new day care center his teachers did not believe that he ever had a behavioral problem. He followed directions and participated in group functions like the other children.”
References:
Case Study: Gillespie, BR. Case study in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: the corrective aspect of craniosacral fascial therapy. Explore (NY). 2009;5:296-8
Craniosacral therapy for migraine: a feasibility study
A 2012 feasibility study with 60 randomized individuals completing 8 weeks of therapy. Results suggests: “A significant difference, favoring CST, was noted by treatment group in mean headache hours per day 30 days post treatment (1.89 vs. 2.78, p=0.003). HIT-6 scores decreased significantly in both groups, but without a between-group difference at the last treatment visit. MIDAS scores improved in the CST, but not the LSSM group at 4 weeks post treatment. Headache intensity was reduced more in the CST compared with the LSSM group” Further protocol modifications needed to enhance future research of CST for migraines.
References:
Research: J Mann, S Gaylord, K Faurot, C Suchindran, R Coeytaux, L Wilkinson, R Coble, P Curtis. “P02.55. Craniosacral therapy for migraine: a feasibility study”. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2012; 12(Suppl 1): P111.
Links and Resources
The most comprehensive online platform of craniosacral research to date right now is: http://www.craniosacral.co.uk/research. The intention of this blog is to expand on what this UK craniosacral site has already begun.
If you know of craniosacral research or case studies that are not listed on this blog, please contact us with that information so that we may post it: biodynamichealthsystems@gmail.com.
Thank you.
These are links to other sites that list research available on craniosacral therapy:
http://www.cranio-sacral.co.il/english/articles.html
http://www.craniosacral.co.uk/research
http://www.upledger.co.uk/research.html
These are online social media groups that share information about craniosacral therapy:
https://www.facebook.com/CraniosacralTherapyEducationalTrust
https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/100840039241708948211
