What is Craniosacral and Fascia Therapy?
What is craniosacral therapy?
Our central nervous system, the brain and spinal cord, are surrounded by cerebrospinal fluid encased in the bony spine and skull. The cerebrospinal fluid pulses as it moves up and down through the system and is regenerated in the brain. As this fluid pulses, slight movements are made in the skull and spine, specifically the sacrum. Hands on touch, with the pressure of just 5 grams, to the specific bones, can palpate the pulse and help influence any areas that are “stuck” from the energy of the bodyworker and the body's self healing abilities.
Why does this matter?
Specifically with babies, in utero positioning and the birth process can affect the skull shape. The skull bones are meant to overlap during vaginal birth, and are naturally suppose to move back as baby sucks during feedings. However, with feeding dysfunction, lack of enough movement, or for other reasons, the skull bones can get “stuck”. When certain bones are overlapping they can cause compression to some of the cranial nerves that originate at the brain stem and travel through openings in the skull to go to the face, mouth, neck, and digestive tract. This can cause feeding problems, digestive problems, asymmetries of the skull and facial bones, and more. Craniosacral therapy can help open the tracks for the cranial nerves to travel through and create space and symmetry for the bones.
What is fascia?
Fascia is a layer of connective tissue surrounding everything in the body. It is the layers that make up blood vessels, surround nerves, muscles, and bones, hold the organs and digestive system in place, and connect everything in the body to each other. Fascia is laid down in utero as the baby grows, and if the baby has restricted movement in utero, they can also have restricted movement of their fascia after birth.
Why does this matter?
Babies need free movement of their fascia and body to feed effectively and move without restriction. Babies first learn to move through their reflexes they are born with, moving their bodies in flexion, extension, and rotation patterns. Restriction in fascia can restrict these movements and restrict oral movements for feeding. Fascial work is performed by a bodyworker that uses their hands and energy to focus on a certain area of fascia to encourage the body to bring vasodilation to the area and therefore improve the blood flow to the fascia and improve its health and mobility. Also allowing baby more opportunities for mobility (limit swaddling and “containers”) will assist them in more self correction of their tight patterns and work through their reflexes to integrate and mature.
Who would benefit from craniosacral and fascia therapy?
Any baby would benefit from these therapies due to the birthing process being traumatic (no matter how they were birthed)! But given the right opportunities of movement, appropriate feeding mechanics, and a lot of skin to skin with caregivers can help most babies self heal. However babies that show the following symptoms would very likely benefit from this bodywork:
Babies that have a lot of tension, especially around the neck, with either a strong turn preference or their shoulders are up at their ears
Babies that have flattening of the skull either on one side or the whole back side of the skull, or still have overlap of the skull bones after a few days after birth
Babies with diagnosed torticollis
Babies that were breech
Babies with birth trauma (prolonged labor, emergency C-section, vacuum or forceps assisted delivery, etc.)
Premature babies (have premature nervous systems)
Babies with any feeding difficulties (breast or bottle)
Babies with reflux (whether you see spit up or not), a lot of arching and discomfort
Babies with resistance to tummy time
Babies that have a hard time with sleep and relaxing their bodies
