Cranial motions, dysfunction

Because ofthe close functioning ofthe sacrum with the cranial motions, the sacrum may also be used as an entry point for diagnosis and treatment of dysfunctions amenable to osteopathy in the cranial field. 

Proper sacral and pelvic joint motion should be achieved in all gait, posture, and spinal motion problems. Because the sacrum Is closely associated with cranial motion, the sacrum must be evaluated as pan of the cranial motion evaluation. Lower extremity dysfunction often results from or may cause pelvic dysfunctions. 

The osieopathic manipulative treatment of L.D. was performed while she was sleeping. Palpation for cranial motion and treatment with cranial techniques is difficult in an infant because they are, for the most part, continuously moving. For this reason, it is best to conduct a cranial examination and treatment as the infant is asleep or being fed. The dysfunctions found on the osteopathic examination of L.D. were addressed with balancing of membranous tension, decompression ofthe occipital condyles, and other cranial techniques, as well as sacral balancing. At the conclusion ofthe cranial treatment, L.D. was able to latch-on successfully to her mother s... 

Myofascial soft tissue treatment with counterstrain and muscle energy techniques may relieve the facial pain associated with Bell s palsy. The occipitomastoid compression should be released and the temporal bone assisted into normal internal/external rotation. Normal lymphatic flow should be assured by correcting dysfunctions of the cervical spine, cranial motion, and sacrum. C3 should always be evaluated and any dysfunction corrected. 

Her physical examination was unremarkable for any problems other than findings related to the neck injury. The posterior neck musculature was tense and tender to palpation. Motion was grossly restricted in flexion, side-bending, and rotation bilaterally. There was some muscle tension and tenderness in the upper back to about the level of T4. A neurologic examination was normal. The cranial rhythm was sluggish and there was a tendency toward a right side-bending dysfunction of the basi-occiput. 

Once the acute inflammation has subsided, some tissue tension will still remain. Range of motion will improve but may still be limited. The patient may now be treated with appropriate osteopathic manipulative techniques to the injured area or wherever somatic dysfunction is found. Muscle energy, counterstrain, lymphatic drainage techniques, cranial, and facilitated positional release techniques may be used judiciously. Thrusting techniques should not be used until the soft tissues are no longer boggy and warm. If necessary, they may be used to correct stubborn somatic dysfunctions with firm barriers to motion. 

No cranial bone moves independently. Restriction originating in any part of the cranium will cause changes in the motion of the entire cranium. The patterns of both functional and dysfunctional motions presented in this section should be considered in the context of variability that may influence the overall motion that presents itself. This approach provides an excellent basis for deepening understanding of the varieties of patterns that may present clinically. 

The sphenobasilar junction is the reference point around which diagnostic motion patterns are described. This does not imply that the dysfunction originated or is generated from the point. These general patterns represent the adaptation of the cranium to strain. The strain may be the result of dysfunction anywhere in the body. Cranial treatment is most effective when it is part of a complete osteopathic treatment plan. 

The primary area or dysfunction, the site of original insult or injury, may exist in any area or system. A compensatory reaction may ensue anywhere in the body or not at all. Differing dysfunctions may create similar-appearing motion changes in the cranium but require significantly different treatment For example, a side-bending rotation pattern in the cranial base may arise from a sprained ankle or a blow to the head, each requiring quite different treatment approaches. 

He received osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) to relieve the muscle hypertonicity, the somatic dysfunction, and to increase the cranial-sacral motion. In addition, he was given al-lopurinol and K-citrate to assist in reducing his uric acid as well as to create alkaline urine. 

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