Explanatory models in cranial osteopathy are either outdated, in conflict with current evidence or way too subtle to be grounded on any evidence-informed theory.
This course is designed as an invitation to consider the head under a different perspective, which bears the advantage to be compliant with current knowledge in the field of tissue mechanics and to open up to new perspectives in the manual approach of the bony tissue in general, and more particularly the head.
Summary of Osteopathic Practice Standards (updated) covered in this course
A Communication and patient partnership - A3,
B Knowledge, skills and performance - B1, B3, B4
D Professionalism - D1, D3
Learning outcomes
- Get acquainted with the basic principles of material mechanics in order to get access to the relevant literature reviewing the stresses and strains of the skull
- Understand the mechanical behaviour of bones, how they distort, under which load and to what extent
- Get updated about the most recent findings in matter of cerebrospinal fluid circulation and micro-movements of the brain and be able to critically appraise their relevance in our daily practice.
- Experience a way to approach manually the bony tissue that would be compliant with current knowledge
- Understand how this approach could fit in a biopsychosocial framework
- Figure out the respective role of the key figures in the development of the current cranial approach in osteopathy
Course suitability
This course is suitable for osteopaths, chiropractors, physiotherapists who are looking for an update in the field of cranial osteopathy and/or are looking for another way to include the head in their daily practice. Existing cranial experience is not necessary to attend this course.
Timetable
Day 1
09:00-09:30: Registration
09:30-11:00: Theory – The cranial sutures: roles and evolution through life
11:00-11:30: Break
11:30-12:30: Theory – Basic principles of material mechanics – part 1
12:30-13:30: lunch (included)
13:30-14:00: Theory – Basic principles of material mechanics – part 2
14:00-14:45: Theory – The mechanical properties of living tissues, in-vivo distortions of bones
14:45-15:30: Practical – palpatory exercises on the bony tissue: the tibia
15:30-16:00: Break
16:00-17:30: Theory – Multi-stability, fatigue failures, reversible and irreversible states, how these notions may fit in an informed biopsychosocial model
Day 2
09:00-09:30: Summary of the previous day
09:30-11:00: Theory – The mechanical properties and behaviour of the head
11:00-11:30: Break
11:30-12:30: Practical – palpatory exercises on the head – part 1
12:30-13:30: lunch (included)
13:30-14:00: Practical – palpatory exercises on the head – part 2
14:00-15:00: Theory – Critical appraisal of the Sutherland model, and historical perspective
15:00-16:00: Practical – palpatory exercises on the posterior part of the head, the vault and the face
16:00-16:30: Break
16:30-17:30: Theory – Movements of the brain and the cerebrospinal fluid, history and current state of research
Recommended pre-reading
Gabutti, M. & Draper-Rodi, J. Osteopathic decapitation: Why do we consider the head differently from the rest of the body? New perspectives for an evidence-informed osteopathic approach to the head. International Journal of Osteopathic Medicine 17, 1–7 (2014).