Cranio Fascial Dynamics is an approach developed by renowned chiropractor, Jonathon Howat. As the name suggests, it looks at the deep connective tissues (also known as fascia) that envelop the spinal cord and brain. This connective tissue, called the dural membrane, is very important for the functioning of the spine and nervous system.
FUNCTIONS OF THE CRANIAL FASCIA (THE DURAL MEMBRANES):
- The dura plays a role in the dynamic stability of how the cranium (the skull), spine and pelvis function coherently together. This is due to the location of the dural attachments inside the skull, at the base of the skull and upper neck, and in the pelvis
- It influences the flow of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) through the spine and brain
- The dura envelop the brain, spinal cord and cranial nerves
- The dura helps to protect the brain and limit any displacement; protecting the central nervous system.
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CRANIUM
In the CFD approach, the cranium is a vital part of the assessment and treatment protocol. It may be the cause of dysfunctions elsewhere in the body, especially in the neck and pelvis.
WHAT CAUSES DYSFUNCTION TO DEVELOP?
The CFD hypothesis is that traumatic influences throughout life, including head traumas, brain injuries, whiplash and accumulated micro traumas, can create a torque in the cranial fascia which in turn can affect the structural integrity of the skull, neck and pelvis. We do not treat these injuries directly, but we can look at the tension patterns they can produce in the body.
This torque can lead to several things, including:
- Postural changes throughout the body, such as uneven shoulders, rotated pelvis and uneven legs (read about that here)
- The jaw movement can become impaired, possibly leading to temporomandibular dysfunction (TMJ) and changes in the occlusion
- Restriction in the movement of the spine, particularly the upper neck and pelvis
- Patterns of muscular tightness that result from the restriction in the spine.
All these changes can result in a myriad of symptoms because the effects are so widespread through the body.
ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT USING CFD
CFD uses a precise assessment protocol to assess the effects of any potential cranial fascial torque, such as those listed above. From this we can determine the nature of the torque, if present, and use the treatment protocol to address the underlying pattern. After the treatment we can normally measure immediate changes in the function, particularly in the way the neck, pelvis and hips move.
References
Kekere V, Alsayouri K. Anatomy, Head and Neck, Dura Mater. [Updated 2020 Aug 10]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2021 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK545301/ [Accessed 23 July 2021].
Cranio Fascial Dynamics. 2020. About Cranio Fascial Dynamics (CFD). [ONLINE] Available at: https://craniofascialdynamics.com/about-cfd/. [Accessed 23 July 2021].