Concussions have been in the news often lately. You can find news about concussions affecting athletes in many different sports, from hockey to basketball. Concussions can be very dangerous, especially if someone experiences multiple concussions.
When a person experiences a concussion, it can lead to misalignment in the skull, its bones, and restriction in the cerebrospinal fluid. This is where craniosacral therapy can be beneficial.
How Craniosacral Therapy Relates to Concussions
In the long term, concussions damage the brain. If you get them often, this damage can become severe interrupting important nervous system functions. Concussions are one of the major causes of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Thanks to modern technology, medical professionals have begun to research new ways to treat concussions. One of the most recent is craniosacral therapy which, thanks to its unique manipulation of cranial bones and muscles, can directly address the issues causing the concussion.
Does Craniosacral Therapy Work for a Concussion?
Craniosacral therapy is very helpful for concussions. Craniosacral therapy works by using gentle touches to manipulate cranial bones around the head, face, and neck as a way to help manage the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). This is an important aspect of the nervous system.
Craniosacral therapists are very gentle when treating anyone with a concussion. Because concussions cause bruising of the brain, it's important that patients do not receive further jarring. As craniosacral therapy focuses on patient comfort and light touches, it is an excellent option for treating the damage caused by a concussion.
Craniosacral Therapy May Help With Concussion Recovery Time
There is plenty of research to back up craniosacral treatment of concussions. A study has found that craniosacral therapy is a safe way to help manage concussion-related symptoms and hasten recovery. Not sure if, what you are experiencing is a concussion? Read: What is a Concussion?
The Power of Craniosacral Therapy for Multiple Concussions
Even for those suffering from multiple concussions, craniosacral therapy has proven to help improve the quality of life. A study involving five retired football players suffering from the effects of multiple concussions found that frequent craniosacral therapy sessions helped to alleviate their symptoms.
Due to its effectiveness evidenced in surveys and research sessions so far, craniosacral therapy is currently being considered for use in the treatment of concussions and TBIs for veterans.
Is Craniosacral Therapy for a Concussion an Effective Treatment Option?
Understanding the effectiveness of craniosacral therapy continues to grow as more and more studies are conducted.
Why might studies be concluding that craniosacral therapy is useful, effective, and beneficial for concussions?
Nervous system damage can be permanent, but modern medicine is finding ways to work with the body's natural processes to help heal. Our nervous system is very resilient, and the key is finding the right method to trigger healing.
Craniosacral therapy focuses on ensuring the good flow of CSF does just this. Craniosacral therapists are not treating a symptom but are in fact helping the body help itself. Many sufferers from concussions are reporting that craniosacral therapy has made a major difference in their lives in reducing their symptoms associated with single episode and repeat concussions.
How Many Sessions are Recommended?
Because concussion damage is often cumulative, it is rare that only one session of craniosacral therapy can lead to instantaneous improvement. According to a study, patients who have seen improvement undergo frequent craniosacral therapy sessions, usually twice a day for a week.
Of course, going twice a day is likely not convenient or practical for most. So when it comes to what may be best for you, talk to your craniosacral therapy practitioner.
Concussions have lifelong effects; therefore, maintenance sessions are often recommended once an initial treatment plan has been completed and progress has been experienced.
Cost
The average price per session for craniosacral therapy is $70-$170. The overall cost that you will end up spending will depend on the number of sessions you and a practitioner decide is best for your needs. For more information, read: How Much Does Craniosacral Therapy Cost?
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019). Traumatic brain injury & concussion. Retrieved April 12, 2019, from https://www.cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury
Gordon, Medlina. (2018). CranioSacral Therapy shows promise as concussion treatment ? research. Horsetalk.co.nz. Retrieved April 12, 2019, from https://www.iahe.com/docs/articles/craniosacral-therapy-shows-promise-as-concussion-treatment-----research.pdf
Patel, K. G., & Sabini, R. C. (2018, June 01). Safety of Osteopathic Cranial Manipulative Medicine as an Adjunct to Conventional Postconcussion Symptom Management: A Pilot Study. Retrieved April 12, 2019, from https://jom.osteopathic.org/abstract/safety-of-osteopathic-cranial-manipulative-medicine-as-an-adjunct-to-conventional-postconcussion-symptom-management-a-pilot-study/
Wetzler, G., Fryer, S., and Visger, G. (2013). The Ricky Williams concussion project. The Ricky Williams Foundation. Retrieved from April 12, 2019, from https://www.iahe.com/docs/articles/the-ricky-williams-concussion-project.pdf
Wetzler, G, Roland, M., Fryer-Dietz, S., and Dettman-Ahern, D. (2017). Craniosacral therapy and visceral manipulation: a new treatment intervention for concussion recovery. Medical Acupuncture. Retrieved April 12, 2019, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5580370/
