A Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT) Gives Craniosacral Massage Therapy by Chris Lontok

A licensed massage therapist (LMT) is the most credible, reputable and reliable administrator of craniosacral massage therapy as well as other massage therapy modalities such as deep tissue massage therapy, sports massage therapy, reflexology massage therapy, shiatsu massage therapy, acupressure massage therapy and pregnancy massage therapy.

Craniosacral massage therapy is sometimes referred to as cranial osteopathy. The smooth flow of cerebrospinal fluid through the membranes of the central nervous system is facilitated by the licensed massage therapist or LMT as he or she realigns misaligned bones by carefully handling the cranial sutures, diaphragm and fascia of the skull and spine. This releases any restrictions on the nerve passages. This relieves the pain suffered by the patient due to various conditions like temporomandibular joint disorder or the inflammation of the joint between the jaw and the skull, chronic headache, fibromyalgia, back pain, neck pain and mental stress.

William Sutherland, a doctor of osteopathy, developed craniosacral massage therapy between 1898 and 1900. Despite the fact that the prevailing belief at that time was that the skull was a solid unmoving piece of bone, Sutherland asserted that the cranial sutures are more akin to fish gills. He pointed out that the meeting points of the temporal bones and parietal bones are beveled and the cranium moves in a pattern similar to breathing and synchronized with the movement of the spinal sacrum. He called this the primary respiratory mechanism. Sutherland’s theory was also complementary to the philosophy of osteopathy which revolved around the Breath of Life.

Eventually, Sutherland developed biodynamic craniosacral therapy and biodynamic osteopathy which was more spiritual and attuned with the concepts of Qi or Prana in Asia. The new philosophies gave more respect to the innate ability of the body’s forces to correct and heal itself. A more subtle external touch is therefore advocated in order to allow the body to tap its own internal resources.

Although the initial reaction of the osteopathy community was resistance to cranial osteopathy, the American School of Osteopathy put up a graduate course on “Osteopathy in the Cranial Field” in 1940, with Sutherland as director. He later established the Cranial Academy in 1947 and the Sutherland Cranial Teaching Foundation in 1953.

Biodynamic osteopathy was eventually developed by Becker and James Jealous while craniosacral therapy was developed further by Franklyn Sills. In 1987, osteopathic physician John E. Upledger put up the Upledger Institute for craniosacral therapy. Today, its affiliates are gathered under the International Association of Healthcare Practitioners.

Craniosacral therapy is widely recognized throughout the world. In 1989, the Craniosacral Therapy Association of the UK (CSTA) was established. In 1998, the Craniosacral Therapy Association of North America was put up. In 2004, the Craniosacral Therapy Association of Australia was founded.

It is always best to go a reputable professional licensed massage therapist (LMT) for authentic craniosacral massage therapy. An LMT also provides deep tissue massage therapy, sports massage therapy, reflexology massage therapy, shiatsu massage therapy, acupressure massage therapy and pregnancy massage therapy, and does insurance billing for people in auto accidents. This is a natural extension of the services provided by an LMT who usually has clients who have been victims of auto accidents.