Craniosacral therapy: the effects of cranial manipulation on intracranial pressure and cranial bone movement.
METHODS
Quasi-experimental design.


OBJECTIVE
To determine if physical manipulation of the cranial vault sutures will result in changes of the intracranial pressure (ICP) along with movement at the coronal suture.


BACKGROUND
Craniosacral therapy is used to treat conditions ranging from headache pain to developmental disabilities. However, the biological premise for this technique has been theorized but not substantiated in the literature.


METHODS
Thirteen adult New Zealand white rabbits (oryctolagus cuniculus) were anesthetized and microplates were attached on either side of the coronal suture. Epidural ICP measurements were made using a NeuroMonitor transducer. Distractive loads of 5, 10, 15, and 20 g (simulating a craniosacral frontal lift technique) were applied sequentially across the coronal suture. Baseline and distraction radiographs and ICP were obtained. One animal underwent additional distractive loads between 100 and 10,000 g. Plate separation was measured using a digital caliper from the radiographs. Two-way analysis of variance was used to assess significant differences in ICP and suture movement.


RESULTS
No significant differences were noted between baseline and distraction suture separation (F = 0.045; P>.05) and between baseline and distraction ICP (F = 0.279; P>.05) at any load. In the single animal that underwent additional distractive forces, movement across the coronal suture was not seen until the 500-g force, which produced 0.30 mm of separation but no corresponding ICP changes.


CONCLUSIONS
Low loads of force, similar to those used clinically when performing a craniosacral frontal lift technique, resulted in no significant changes in coronal suture movement or ICP in rabbits. These results suggest that a different biological basis for craniosacral therapy should be explored.
Downey
Patricia A
PA
Physical Therapy Program, Chatham College, Woodland Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA. downey@chatham.edu
Barbano
Timothy
T
Kapur-Wadhwa
Rupali
R
Sciote
James J
JJ
Siegel
Michael I
MI
Mooney
Mark P
MP
D000818:Animals; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D003393:Cranial Sutures; D005260:Female; D007427:Intracranial Pressure; D008297:Male; D026201:Musculoskeletal Manipulations; D011817:Rabbits