Rather than depend on medications to treat their chronic condition, some people prefer a more holistic approach for treating, pain, fatigue and other symptoms associated with fibromyalgia.
One such treatment is fairly new and has shown promise helping patients fight headaches, body aches and the feelings of fatigue. This new treatment is called craniosacral therapy, which comes from osteopathy. Osteopathy places an emphasis on how the musculoskeletal system can help improve people’s health.
An Explanation of Craniosacral Therapy
This treatment method is an alternative therapy that uses gentle palpations of the pressure points located in head, knees, torso and feet. The palpations are done with light pressure from the practitioner’s fingers. There are no bone manipulations or forceful movements like those often used by chiropractors, orthopedists or in osteopathy.
The main goal of craniosacral therapy is to improve the functioning of the central nervous system by eliminating restrictions in the craniosacral system. The craniosacral system consists of the membranes and fluid that surround the brain and spinal cord to help protect them. The membranes extend from the bones of the cranium at the face, mouth and skull, then down the spine to the sacrum, which is the tailbone area.
Craniosacral therapy was developed in the 1970s by Dr. John Upledger. He based this form of therapy on the theories developed by Dr. William Sutherland in the 1930s. This form of therapy is now widely used in the United States to help people with chronic pain, including those with fibromyalgia.
How does Craniosacral Therapy Work?
The theory that helped these doctors develop this therapy is based on the idea that the craniosacral system is tied into a person’s overall health. Craniosacral therapists belief that the cerebrospinal fluid emits a measurable pulse, called the cranial rhythmic pulse and, much like the heart or blood vessels, this pulse can rise or fall. They claim a healthy pulse should measure 10 to 14 cycles per minute and if there is interference in the pulse’s rhythm, then chronic pain diseases like fibromyalgia can develop.
For a condition like fibromyalgia, a craniosacral therapist will locate and measure the rate of the cranial rhythmic pulse. It is measured by placing their fingertips over certain areas of the body where the pulse can be detected. Once the pulse blockage has been located by the therapist, they can begin to clear the blockage.
Restoring the pulse to its normal rhythm is done with gentle palpations of the skull. The main focal points will be the connections of the skull’s bones and palpating will help to restore the cranial rhythmic pulse, which will help to reduce some fibromyalgia symptoms.
The Benefits of Craniosacral Therapy for Fibromyalgia Patients
Many fibromyalgia patients have benefited greatly from craniosacral therapy, even though there are naysayers in the medical community about the value of this therapy. It has been effective for many patients in reducing their symptoms because this therapy can help reduce the occurrence of tension headaches, help reduce widespread pain, increase range of motion, improve mood and decrease chronic fatigue.
Even though some in the medical community consider it quacky, there have been several studies showing the effectiveness of craniosacral therapy. These studies noted improvements in the patients’ conditions who participated in them. An article about a recent study was published in Massage Magazine that showed fibromyalgia patients did show a reduction in pain when craniosacral therapy was used on them.
The study was conducted at the Department of Nursing and Physical Therapy at the University of Almeria in Spain. It was conducted with 92 participants, all of whom suffered with fibromyalgia. Some of the participants were assigned to either an invention group or a placebo group. The intervention group received craniosacral therapy and the placebo group received a fake therapy using magnetotherapy equipment, although it was turned off. The therapies were given to the patients for 20 weeks.
At 20 weeks, the intervention group reported a significant reduction of pain at 13 out of 18 tender points on their bodies. After two months and at a year after the research treatments, the group that received the CST still reported a significant reduction in pain in several tender points. Due to these findings, the researchers concluded the therapy was able to improve medium-term pain symptoms for fibromyalgia patients.
How to Find a Craniosacral Therapist
If you want to try craniosacral therapy to see if it can help reduce fibromyalgia pain and to help you feel less fatigued, you will want to find a practitioner that is certified in its practice. Depending on where you live, it could be difficult to find someone who uses this therapy in their practice, but you can seek out those who are licensed in alternative medicine, occupational therapy, physical therapy or osteopathy to help you find a therapist. Check with a fibromyalgia support group, do an online search for therapists in your area or contact a school that certifies craniosacral therapists.
What to Expect from Sessions
When you go to a craniosacral therapist for treatment, you can expect a session to last about 40 minutes to an hour. The sessions are conducted in a quiet area of a clinic or office and you don’t have to worry about disrobing because the sessions are done on patients when they are fully clothed.
After laying down and relaxing, the therapist will place his or her fingers on various areas of your body to find your cranial rhythmic pulse. Once that is found, the therapist will begin to gently palpation around your head, neck and spine. You could feel so relaxed you fall asleep, you may feel temperature changes in your body, instant pain relief and/or increased energy.
Before trying the therapy, advise your doctor that you wish to consider it, but do not change your medication regimen if it works for you. This therapy can work in conjunction with your medical treatment routine, but it shouldn’t replace that routine, especially if it is working well and helping to manage your fibromyalgia symptoms.
Further reading:
Craniosacral Therapy: http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/explore-healing-practices/craniosacral-therapy
New Research Shows Craniosacral Therapy Reduces Fibromyalgia Patients’ Pain: http://www.massagemag.com/new-research-shows-craniosacral-therapy-reduces-fibromyalgia-patients-pain-7755/