[N+J]

Hello,

Sorry - I think there have been many posts on here before about this but can't find them in the 'search' bit.

We have been doing cranio osteopathy at the children's centre in Farringdon/ London for 3 years now - so I should have some idea whether it works I know. But ... I've been going with blind faith really. It costs very little as its a charity, it is very close to us and I've really liked the person who treated Samuel. I've never seen any miracles though, just trusted that they were easing off tensions here and there causes by unequal growth and usage of muscles etc and in the long run this would help Samuel develop more evenly.

Now though, the centre is moving and the journey will take much longer - our therapist has left and Samuel will soon be starting school and I'll be having a baby (touch wood everything goes well).

I'm wondering whether to take on this new journey, or pay a lot more money to see someone locally or drop the cranio altogether.

What have your experiences of cranio osteopathy been? Is anyone out there trained in it (by any lucky chance!) and if so could you let me know whether you think scientifically it does actually make any real difference?

Thank you,

Nicola x

[kellyp]

Hi there,

Oliver has been having it for 3 years now too every 3 months and im thinking the same as you, we pay £30 a session and im un willing to give it up just incase its doing something that we dont notice. Whenever we go were told it was needed to get the 'flow moving again' but does it really do anything?

Kelly

[N+J]

That's interesting Kelly,

We've been going every 3 weeks (am I a fool?) - its only cost us 10 pounds each time though.

I asked today if we could go down to once every 6 weeks and they said they'd have to see once we tried it.

Nicola.

[rach100]

Hi
We've been doing it with my son for last 3 months, he is now 1. We go to a registered osteopath who teaches at the centre at farringdon and is excellent. Since going (every week, now down to every 2 weeks, and soon to be every month) i have seen improvements in his shape of his head and movement in his arm. My son couldn't even move his arm much 6 months ago, now he can move it almost as well as the right and can open and close with his left hand.
Now, we like everyone else on here do a number of treatments so its difficult to attribute success to a particular one, but I believe cranio osteopathy has been a real help. I mentioned the shape of his head, as I had a c-section and the tramua caused to my son his head was quite "pointy". Since the cranial its changed shape significantly. In addition, she works on his hips and pelvis and I believe this helped him start rolling and crawling. I think we'll be doing this for a while at least until he goes to school even if its every month or so I think it has real benefits! She explains the science behind it and unlike other techniques we've tried (Bowen, massage/scotsman) for us it really has helped our son.
Rachel

[N+J]

Hello Rachel,

Thank you for your reply -

Do you mind me asking who the lady is that you see at the centre? And also what other therapies do you do?

We visit the same centre as you and as mentioned, our therapist has just left - so it would be good to know of someone else who is good ...

I am being nosey and asking what other therapies you do because it sounds like your son's progress has been remarkable - and certainly nothing like this has happened to Samuel with such speed - its happened over a much longer time.

I always try and work out which therapy is doing what and have never put a lot of the big changes down to cranio.

The Farringdon place is moving to Wandsworth in January - its a much further journey for us now - perhaps it won't be too bad for you?

Nicola

[Nick]

Hi

I am Nick, a children's physiotherapist working in research. I do believe that you have seen change in your children during the duration of your treatment with cranial osteopathy. However, very little evidence exists for this treatment, and only one study that I can find clearly disproved their claims (14 different cranial osteopaths assessed and diagnosed 14 different diseases in one subject).

These osteopaths claim to be able to manipulate the plates of the skull to change the flow of CSF etc using pressure of only a few grams of pressure of their fingers. Clearly, this is nonsense. If I bent double and charged at full speed at the nearest wall, I would get a large bump and it would hurt, but it would not displace any plates in my skull (which fused solid in the first few weeks of life) or influence the flow of fluids in my skull. Equally, the weight of my head on the pillow at night would displace the plates, causing - according to them - all sorts of serious health problems.

I don't like to see people spending their hard-earned money on things that are very likely not helping them or their children.

Hope this helps
Nick