Could cranial osteopathy relieve distressing pain and pressure in babies and small children? Dr Howard Lee investigates

Cranial osteopathy is associated with the oldest known method of healing - the 'laying on of hands'. Cranial osteopaths were originally labelled 'quacks' for stating that the bones of the skull should be slightly mobile to allow the contained structures to grow and develop normally - and permit treatments. The development of modern examination and diagnostic equipment has confirmed these early statements.

Osteopathy originated from the belief that misaligned bones and improper joint functions were responsible for pain and disease - resulting from a change in circulating blood in the back - and led to the development of various techniques like 'mobilisation, massage, gentle manipulation and stretching'. Such therapy works by restoring a necessary balance to structures of the skeleton, which, in turn, aids a return to a healthy function.

Early experiments
Cranial osteopathy was developed in the early 1900s by American osteopath William G Sutherland. He concentrated on very gentle osteopathy to the head, believing that proper functioning of the brain and nervous system depended on the ability of the bones of the skull to move slightly. He experimented on his own head and found that restrictions of movement and varying pressures (which he achieved using a helmet-like device) produced pain in various areas and had a subsequent effect on his overall health, both mentally and physically. His experiments demonstrated that gentle compression in certain areas could help, as well as detect, many problems.

Birth stress for babies
It is widely thought that babies and children have no structural 'stresses' in their bodies simply because of their age. The reality is very different. Enormous forces have expelled the baby against the natural resistance of the birth canal. The baby's head is compressed, twisted and moulded in order to facilitate the birth. This birth trauma may be compounded by any of the possible complications that can occur in delivery (for example the necessity for forceps assistance).

After delivery the head gradually un-moulds over the next few days. In some cases, however, the un-moulding process may be incomplete and this is especially so in the case of a particularly difficult or assisted birth. In cases like this the baby may have uncomfortable stresses remaining within the head and body, and while many do cope very well, others can show a variety of problems.

How does cranial osteopathy help?
Cranial osteopathy can help a wide variety of conditions in infants and young children, for example:

• Digestive problems like colic and feeding difficulties as a result of changed mechanical stresses.
• Sickness and wind problems as a possible result of stomach and diaphragm pressure changes.
• Screaming, crying, irritability and hyperactivity due to possible uncomfortable head pressure.
• Sleep disturbances as a result of increased irritability in the nervous system.

Does it work for older children?
In older children, during the growth period, retained moulding can lead to further problems, such as:

• Ear and general infections - as a result of influences on the child's general susceptibility to infection. One of the most common problems encountered in the early years is the development of troublesome symptoms from glue ear, along with associated hearing problems. Cranial osteopathy can restore the normal drainage of fluid through the Eustachian tubes and thus aid a return of hearing.
• A constantly blocked or runny nose - as a result of impaired growth and drainage of the sinuses - is often due to retained moulding stresses in a normal child.
• Various behavioural problems, learning difficulties and special needs. It may well be that the restlessness of young babies is carried forward as the child grows. This can lead to poor concentration, hyperactivity and fidgetiness. The brain's normal patterns of function may be disturbed and modified, and cranial osteopathy has a special place in the treatment of such conditions.
• Asthma, chronic headaches and similar conditions can also benefit from cranial osteopathy treatments.

Is it safe?
You may have worries and concerns about babies or young children being treated by osteopaths, but you can be reassured; cranial osteopathy uses a very gentle and safe approach. The treatment is used to assist what already exists in the body, helping to release the changed stresses and tension build up. As the treatment has a generally cumulative effect, a series of sessions may be of increasing benefit. Very occasionally some children may show increased restlessness following treatment, for up to 48 hours; this then settles spontaneously.

Useful contacts

The Children's Clinic
European School of Osteopathy
Maidstone, Kent
Tel: 01622 685989

The Children's Clinic
The British School of Osteopathy
London
Tel: 020 7930 9254

Osteopathic Centre for Children
020 7486 6160

General Osteopathic Council
020 7357 6655

The Sutherland Society
The UK Organisation for Cranial Osteopaths gives more information about all aspects of cranial osteopathy, as well as providing a means of finding a local practitioner in your own area.