What is Cranial Osteopathy?
Much like structural osteopathy, cranial osteopathy encourages the release of stresses and tensions, allowing the body to engage its own natural ability to heal itself.
The name, cranial osteopathy, does imply treatments are based around the head, though it must be stressed that cranial therapy can be used to treat the whole body.
Cranial osteopathy, also known as cranio-sacral therapy is probably the gentlest hands – on treatment you can experience.
Cranial osteopathy works with the body’s natural rhythms and is non-invasive. It is based on the theory that every cell in a healthy body expresses a rhythmical movement that is fundamental for life.
All the structures in the body, from the fluids to the bones and organs, follow their own particular pattern of movement.
For example the largest moving fluid in the body, the cerebrospinal fluid, acts as protection for the brain and spinal cord, as well as supplying nutrients to, and draining waste products from it.
The effectiveness of these functions rely on steady pump and compression action from the fluid. If this flow is inhibited in one part of the skull it will most likely be reflected further down the spinal column (or vice a versa) as pain or discomfort.
Our osteopaths specialise in cranial osteopahty for babies and adults.
What happens in a typical cranial osteopathy treatment?
A detailed case history is taken with every new patient regarding current symptoms and medical history.
This is followed by examining various movements of the body, both actively and passively.
The diagnosis is explained to the patient and consent is taken for treatment. Cranial osteopathy treatment involves very light touch being applied to various parts of the body.
Sometimes the patient can experience comfortable waves as the body releases and other times nothing is felt until days after the treatment.
Osteopathy is a manual therapy utilising a mixture of techniques including the osteopaths adjustments – which are fast but gentle joint releases, making a little audible pop.
People of all ages who suffer from pain, tackling complaints ranging from sports and work-related injuries to arthritis, sciatica and migraine visit an osteopath.
The osteopath’s role is to improve the patient’s function and mobility and often pain is instantly alleviated althoiugh more than one treatment is often needed.
Mother and Baby Cranial Osteopathy Clinic:Osteopathic treatment during pregnancy can be a wonderfully helpful and supportive addition to your standard medical care.
The safety of mother and baby is paramount and a detailed case history and examination will always take place.
Relaxation and stress avoidance are especially important for the mother to be, and the gentle methods of cranial osteopathy can be very relaxing and therapeutic.
Back, leg, upper back and neck pain are very common during pregnancy due to the sheer weight of the baby placed upon the body.
Many women suffer from pubic symphysis dysfunction (PSD) in their last trimester again due to excess weight and softening of pelvic ligaments leaving the low back and pelvis vulnerable to strain.
Heart burn and indigestion due to the compression of the stomach and intestines against the ever developing uterus are also common problems.
Sufferers of all of these temporary conditions are regularly seeking relief using gentle osteopathic techniques especially modified for use in pregnancy.
You might have a friend, who has good experiences with their osteopath, and if you are looking for an osteopath in London this is often the most reliable way.
Social media is also a good indicator for how to find your best osteopath in London.
We have a couple of hundred 5 star reviews on Google, and these are from genuinly happy clients who are happy to give our osteopaths their recommendation – we do not give any incentives for a nice review, but we strive very hard to maintain a high level of osteopathiuc care.
Visiting an osteopath, you will be treated from 3 basic principles:
1) Your body is a whole and must be regarded and treated as such.
2) Your body can under the right conditions heal itself.
3) Your body’s structure and function are mutually interdependent.
Brent Snell, osteopath and cranial osteopath:
Brent graduated from the British School of Osteopathy in 2002 and has been in full time osteopathic practice ever since.
He has a wide variety of osteopathic experience and interests from treating babies using cranial osteopathy through to Structural techniques and has treated patients from 5 days old to 106 years old.
He lived and worked for some years in West Yorkshire where he worked in private practice and within the NHS and has been working at Central London Osteopathy and Sports Injury Clinic since 2010.
Brent comes from a musical background and for many years prior to becoming an Osteopath was a professional classical musician (violinist) and worked extensively here in the UK and throughout Europe and has an interest in treating musicians as he was one himself professionally and understands the issues musicians often face regarding mechanical problems which can lead to back, neck and upper limb problems.
He has given lectures in the past to other osteopaths and physiotherapists about his approach.
After over 16 years in practice he is still stimulated by osteopathic practice.
He particularly enjoys helping patients with complex problems which are difficult to resolve.
He will often work in conjunction with other practitioners and treatment modalities in order to facilitate a more rapid progress with his patients.
Brent is registered with all the major private health insurance companies but not BUPA and AXA/PPP who in 2016/7 are reducing benefits per treatment and not allowing their members to top up. This will not make it viable for most clinics in Central London to function. We are therefore restricting our BUPA treatments to one osteopath, Tracy Davies and one physiotherapist, Robert Galloway until further notice. AXA/PPP have reduced their benefit to a level that makes it impossible for us to work with them.
Diluka Perera, osteopath , cranial osteopath for children, babies and adults:
Diluka Perera: Diluka is registered with all the major private health insurances but not BUPA and AXA/PPP who in 2016/7 are reducing benefits per treatment and not allowing their members to top up. This will not make it viable for most clinics in Central London to function. We are therefore restricting our BUPA treatments to one osteopath, Tracy Davies and one physiotherapist, Robert Galloway until further notice. AXA/PPP have reduced their benefit to a level that makes it impossible for us to work with them.
With osteopathy, physiotherapy, acupuncture, cranial osteopathy and sports injury clinics in kings cross and Shoreditch, we are conveniently located for Central London, Moorgate, the City, North, West, South and East London.
Our Hoxton clinic is serving Shoreditch, City, Moorgate, Hackney, Canary Wharf, Liverpool Street and post codes: EC1, EC2, EC3, EC4, E1, E2, N1. Islington, Kings Cross, Euston, St Pancras, Moorgate, West end, Camden, City, Chelsea, Harley Street, Kensington, Knightsbridge and post codes:N1, W1, W2, W8, NW1, WC1, WC2, EC1, EC2, EC3, EC4, SE1 for a complete health care.
If you try to find an osteopath near me look no further.
With our Osteopathy, Physiotherapy, sports massage and Sports injury clinic in Shoreditch, we are conveniently located for osteopathy in Central London, the City, Angel, Islington, Canary Wharf, Docklands, North, West, South and East London and is easily accessible from anywhere in London via London buses and trains and whether you are local or not, we will do our best to make your journey worth it.
Nearest tube stations: Old Street, Shoreditch High Street, Moorgate and Liverpool Street.