Continuing Education Classes
CranioSomatic Foundations-1 : 16 CEs, APTA and NCBTMB Approved for Physical Therapists and Massage Therapists
CSF-1: Muscle-Suture Relationships with a 13-Step Protocol
Pre-requisite: licensed healthcare provider or consent of the instructor.
Investment: $445 / early: $395 - Discounts
This first workshop of the CranioSomatic Therapy series introduces the CranioSomatic concept that alterations in the position and function of the osseous and soft tissue components of the cranium are reflected in predictable musculoskeletal responses.
It is our experience that approximating the articular surfaces of a suture, or some portion of a longer suture, will weaken (inhibit) one or more specific muscles. Conversely, decompression of the same articular surfaces will strengthen (facilitate) the muscles. Because compression of a suture reduces or restricts sutural mobility, the compressed area is referred to as a sutural restriction. Sutural restrictions are identified in CranioSomatic workshops by palpation and Therapy Localization (an Applied Kinesiology evaluation procedure); inhibited muscles are identified by manual muscle testing. Manual muscle testing and therapy localization from Applied Kinesiology are taught and used as evaluation procedures to identify sutural restrictions and demonstrate muscle-suture relationships.
The first objective of this workshop is for participants to learn how to locate sutures and release sutural restrictions. The second is to learn how to test muscles associated with each suture, or portion of a long suture. These first two objectives provide practitioners with a new approach for strengthening inhibited muscles.
The third objective is for participants to become confident in releasing sutural restrictions of the vault and facial regions using a 13-Step Protocol at the end of any therapy session. It can also be used as a stand-alone treatment, in conjunction with other modalities, and as a self-care therapy. Sutural releases and the 13-Step Protocol are integral parts of all CranioSomatic modules.
Participants will learn:
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Pertinent features of skull anatomy.
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How to locate sutures on themselves and others.
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Manual Muscle Testing techniques (from AK).
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Therapy Localization techniques (from AK) to identify sutural restrictions.
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Thirteen (13) techniques for releasing sutural restrictions.
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To use AK techniques to demonstrate muscle / suture relationships.
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To perform pre- and post-treatment evaluations for sutural releases.
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How to incorporate CranioSomatic concepts and the 13-Step Protocol into their existing clinical practice.
Investment for CranioSomatic Foundation - 1 & 2 workshops are $445 each. Receive a $50 discount if you register for any workshop 3 weeks or more in advance. Purchase of 2 or more workshops at the same time provides an additional discount.
Click here to download/print this class information.
CranioSomatic Foundations - 2
CSF-2: Sphenobasilar Releases for the Ten Patterns
2-day workshop; 16 CE hours. Prerequisites: CSF-1
Investment: $445 / early: $395 - Discounts
The main focus of this second workshop is the ten Sphenobasilar (SB) patterns. It provides participants with the knowledge and skills to identify and correct SB patterns using traditional osteopathic direct and indirect cranial range-of-motion (ROM) procedures. AK procedures, presented in CSF-1, will be used to confirm the
presence and correction of SB patterns. AK procedures are also used to correlate
each SB pattern with both their related patterns of sutural restrictions and their
global patterns of musculoskeletal compensation. This workshop also includes
more advanced vault and facial sutural release techniques.
By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to immediately apply this
knowledge in clinical practice to benefit their patients. Clinical experience applying the
SB pattern releases is essential for the CranioStructural Integration workshops.
Participants will learn:
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SB patterns are alterations in the position and function of cranial structures.
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Characteristics of the 10 named SB patterns.
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SB patterns are mutually compensatory with spinal and pelvic patterns:
- Pelvic patterns result in distinct SB patterns.
- SB patterns result in distinct pelvic patterns.
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The pattern of strong and weak (inhibited) muscles associated with each SB pattern.
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The unique pattern of sutural restrictions associated with each SB pattern.
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How releasing sutural restrictions may clear an SB pattern.
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How to identify and correct SB patterns using cranial ROM procedures.
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SB ROM releases can be used as a ‘stand-alone’ treatment procedure.
Investment for Foundation 1 & 2 workshops are $445 each. Receive a $50 discount if you register for any workshop 3 weeks or more in advance. Purchase of 2 or more workshops at the same time provides an additional discount.
Click here to download/print this class information.
Background: The adult skull is described as consisting of 28 bones. Six of these bones are located in the two temporal bones (the three ossicles of each inner ear) and are not usually discussed with the other cranial bones. Of the remaining twenty-two bones, eight form the vault and fourteen form the facial region. Cranial bones are capable of limited movement which
generally involves all cranial bones moving together as a single coordinated unit.
These global movements of cranial bones begin with slight movements of the sphenoid and occiput at their articular junction, the sphenobasilar synchondrosis, and are referred to as sphenobasilar (SB) movements. Ten SB movements are described in the osteopathic literature. Each is associated with a unique arrangement of the vault and facial bones; a unique pattern of sutural restrictions; and a unique pattern of facilitated and inhibited muscles. SB movements are mutually compensatory with the movements of the spine and pelvis and result in unique patterns of spinal and pelvic compensations. The ten SB movements consist of five pairs of opposing SB movements (e.g., right versus left torsion, superior versus inferior vertical strains, flexion versus extension, etc.). In these opposing movements the quantity and quality of movement should be equal. When they are not the condition is referred to as a motion dysfunction and the cranial pattern is named for the direction of greatest movement. If the flexion movement is greater than the extension movement, the pattern is named a flexion pattern. The cranial bones are considered to have moved into, and are stuck in, this movement.
