Fibromyalgia: Cranio-Sacral-Therapy

Cranio-Sacral-Therapy offers an excellent introduction into the treatment of chronic pain and especially of fibromyalgia patients, because the effects of the treatment are not locally limited, but take place in a generalized way in the whole body and a relationship of trust between physiotherapist and patient can be established. The Cranio-Sacral Therapy can be assigned to the alternative healing methods and was developed at the beginning of the 20th century by the physician Dr. Sutherland on the basis of Ostheopathy (manual medicine, which considers and treats the human being in its entirety). The term Cranio-Sacral is derived from the Latin words “cranium=skull” and “sacrum = sacrum”.

It is based on the assumption that the rhythmic pulsation of the cerebrospinal fluid (liquor) is transmitted to external tissues and the skeletal system and can thus be palpated by the therapist. The individual bones of the skull are also assumed to move against each other. If the manual examination (palpation) reveals abnormalities in this functional system (e.g. weakened or asymmetrical cranio-sacral rhythm), the therapist can draw conclusions about disorders of other functional systems (organs, muscles, connective tissue, bones) of the body and treat them in a very gentle way.

Since the effects of Cranio-Sacral-Therapy are not scientifically proven, this treatment is not a remedy that can be prescribed by a doctor, i.e. health insurance companies do not cover the costs. Experience shows, however, that in many cases pain relief and relaxation can be achieved, in particular through improved energy flow and the activation of the body’s self-healing processes (physical and psychological).

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