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Thursday, March 17, 2011

Cranial Osteopathy and Cerebral Palsy

Cranial osteopathy may not be beneficial for children with cerebral palsy, according to a recent study.

Cranial osteopathy was developed as an extension of the osteopathic approach, which emphasizes overall health and the relationship between the nerves, muscles, bones and organs. Cranial osteopathy involves the application of Dr. Andrew Taylor Still's principles of osteopathy to the cranium (head) and sacrum (tailbone).

In a recent study, 142 children with cerebal palsy between the ages of five and 12 were randomly assigned to six sessions of cranial osteopathy or a waiting list.

After six months, physiotherapists blindly assessed motor functioning using the Gross Motor Function Measure-66 and quality of life using questionnaires. In addition, parents' assessments of health, sleep, pain and quality of life were documented throughout the study.

The researchers found that there were no significant differences between the various outcome measures for children treated with cranial osteopathy and for those on the waiting list. However, the researchers found that the caregivers of the children receiving osteopathy were almost twice as likely to report that their child's health had improved after six months compared to those on the waiting list.

The authors concluded that cranial osteopathy may not improve motor function, sleep, pain or quality of life for children with cerebral palsy. Additional research is necessary to further evaluate these findings.

For more information about cranial osteopathy, please visit Natural Standard's Health & Wellness database.

References
Natural Standard: The Authority on Integrative Medicine. www.naturalstandard.com

Wyatt K, Edwards V, Franck L, et al. Cranial osteopathy for children with cerebral palsy: a randomised controlled trial. Arch Dis Child. 2011 Feb 24. View Abstract

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