Cranial Osteopathy
What is Cranial osteopathy?
Cranial Osteopathy official definition is "a system of diagnosis and treatment by an osteopathic physician using the primary respiratory mechanism and balanced membranous tension." It is the process by which we manipulate the cranial sutures as well as the involuntary movement of the CNS, termed primary respiration.
This motion pattern is related to the beveling of the sutures and the attachments of the dura and requires intimate knowledge of cranial anatomy.
The internal dural reflections of the falx cerebn, the falx cerebelli, and the tentorium cerebelli are collec tively known as the reciprocal tension membrane (RTM). The RTM restricts the range of articular motion during normal physiologic movement. Distortion in the cranial bones may be transmitted to the base and vault through this reciprocal tension membrane.
William Garner Sutherland, DO:
Fascia is a sheath, a sheet or any number of other dissectible aggregations of connective tissue that forms beneath the skin to attach, enclose, separate muscles and internal organs."
What does that mean? Fascia is all the connective tissue that connects the body and because of how it connects the whole body, it allows for interaction and communication of the body as a whole.
What is fascia composed of?
Fascia is composed of 2 parts: the majority, extracellular matrix, and some metabolically active cells. The most common cell type is the fibroblast cell. They produce the component of the extracellular matrix. These products include proteins of the ground substance including hyaluronic acid and fibers likes collagen. The extracellular matrix is mostly composed of ground substance and some collagen. The collagen fibers are critical for strength and mechanical properties of fascia. The ground substance is responsible for viscocity and sliding as well as plastcity.
Innervation of fascia
The fascia is the most richly innervated system in the body. The fascia is innervated by mechano or proprioceptors that are responsible for positioning and balance. There are also free nerve endings in the fascia that are nociceptors that are embedded in the fascia itself. These nerves are responsible for sensation and touch. When fascia is disrupted with abnormal in growth of fascial fibers and substance, entrapment of these nerves can occur and result in pain.
How do fascial restrictions occur?
Fascia must glide for proper function. Gliding relies on hyaluronic acid. If hyaluronic acid becomes too dense, it alters the force transmission with a reduction in sheer strain. The work of Antonio Stecco showed that when hyaluronic acid is properly attached to collegen fibers, deep fascia glides smoothly. However, when there is abnormal deposition of hyaluronic acid between collegen layers, clumping occurs with resultant fascial restrictions. Abnormal deposition can occur for a variety of reason including overuse, injury, nutritional status, stroke, etc.
How can you get more answers?
Dr. Wang can work with you to figure things out. Dr. Wang uses the Stecco Method of fascial manipulation as well as Fascial Hydrodissection(TM), a technique she developed, to release adhesions.
