Skeptical OB posted about how infants can and do die when craniosacral “therapy” is performed on them. Usually, it’s performed because the parent believes it will reduce colic, or some other normal baby behaviour, and the parent has drunk the kool-aid.
I don’t think a chiropractor has any place treating babies or children, because of how easily the practice can harm or even kill them.
I have had positive results from a trained ostepathic massage therapist. But then, I’m a fully-grown adult. There are, however, some things that he practices that we both know he will never try on me for medical reasons.
For a few months last year, I received massage therapy for my migraines, weekly, from a trained and registered UK osteopath. He was given a detailed medical history, which included my cerebral palsy (spastic) and hydrocephalus (2 shunts in situ). My husband got massages for his hypermobility and fibromyalgia. Hubby was also able to be given certain types of manipulations, which seemed to help and that hubby thought would be safe and useful for him. Both of us are very anti-woo.
He did not do any manipulations on me precisely because of the hydrocephalus, and completely agreed that it was ludicrous and extremely dangerous to do so.
Anyone who has neurological/neurosurgical stuff in their medical histories should think VERY carefully before consenting to any kind of chiropractic manipulations, because given the right set of circumstances, they can kill you. It is imperative that any practitioner you seek treatment from be given your complete medical history.
Case in point: Since I have shunts in place, no manipulations for me, ever.
He did, however, do occipital release on me, which involves gentle but firm pressure (to your tolerance level) applied at the base of the skull, with the aim of drawing apart those very tense muscle fibers with your fingers in gentle massage. No quick jerks or movements are involved, as may be present in a chiropractor’s repertoire. I can do it on myself sitting up, but it was more effective when applied with me laying on my stomach. He also worked extensively on my back an neck muscles, because they are a very common source of tension, which can in turn cause migraines.
Later on, when I began receiving Botox for migraines on the NHS, we learned that some of the injection sites are the back of the neck, the trapezius (shoulder muscles), and the base of the skull – all of which are the same areas of muscles that massage targets.
Unfortunately, the osteopath has since moved away, and we’re still looking for a replacement that can handle my case, as well as the difficulties I have getting onto and off of those tables the patients lie on. I really felt an improvement after months of hard work on my muscles. CP is a permanent disability, and being spastic in my case means my muscles are tense a lot of the time, especially when I’m doing anything other than lying down. I still have the chronic migraines, and I’m still getting Botox, but that osteopath did some really good work for me.
If I ever find a new one, we’ll have to start all over again because I’ve tensed up over time again.
***** Please note: I am not a health care provider or medical professional, so none of the information on my website should take the place of consulting a medical professional. Do not try these exercises without first consulting one. *****
