In my last article, we introduced craniosacral therapy and the craniosacral rhythm (CSR), the subtle movement that craniosacral therapists work with.  Today, I will explore CSR in more detail, look at the current objective evidence of its existence, explore the new evidence-based working theory of what causes it, and introduce a few ways to work with it yourself.  

Evidence of the CSR:

Remember the story of Dr. John Upledger’s first experience with CSR?  Here, he was charged with holding a structure still during surgery and found that he could not.  This rhythm was what he would later call the CSR and became the foundation of Upldedger craniosacral therapy. 

Craniosacral therapists work with the CSR to palpate its differences through the body. These differences then guide treatment.

These are subjective experiences of the CSR, but what about objective measurements? 

Many studies have sought to verify the CSR.  Palpation, calipers, infrared markers, and many other methods have been used.  Unfortunately, the results from these experiments were not precise, and they even conflicted with each other.  As our technology has advanced and interest in biorhythm research has increased, new techniques have produced accurate, reproducible results.

In 2020, Thomas Rosenkilde Rasmussen, PhD, MSc, CST-D, published a study showing a measurable, rhythmic movement in the body separate from the pulse and respirations.  Sensors were placed on the heads of 50 participants and monitored for 42 minutes.  Three distinct rhythmic movements were recorded: the heart rate, the respiratory rate, and a slower movement averaging six cycles per minute.  This third movement fits the description of the craniosacral rhythm (also called the cranial rhythmic impulse). 

Since then, additional research within the cranial field and heart rate variability has verified and expanded this work. Now, we see evidence of the six cycles per minute CSR rhythm originating in the brainstem. Additional slower rhythms have also been verified. This new research may eventually create a bridge between the different fields of cranial work. (7)

What is the craniosacral rhythm?:

We still aren’t 100% sure what the craniosacral rhythm is, but given the brain areas involved and their connections to monitoring circadian rhythms, regulating autonomic functions, and basic survival mechanisms, here is our current best interpretation of the best available information:

“The craniosacral rhythm is an essential, foundational biorhythm which has a specific and powerful effect on the regulation of the autonomic nervous system.” - Avadhan Larson from The Brain Speaks 1 course (6)

Since our autonomic nervous systems are involved in all of the automatic nervous system functions of the body, this is a big deal! Dysautonomia can have far-reaching impacts. Here is a short list of functions controlled by the autonomic nervous system for reference:

• digestion and appetite

• breathing

• heart rate and blood pressure

• stress response (fight/flight/freeze/faun vs. rest/digest/connect)

• temperature control

• immune system function

• blood sugar regulation via the liver and pancreas

• urination and defecation

• sexual function

As you can see, working with the craniosacral system can have far-ranging effects on the body. When your issues are related to stress, craniosacral therapy can be a key piece of your treatment plan that can help your other efforts and treatments work better.

How the CSR feels:

The CSR can be felt anywhere on the body, but there are a few places where it is more obvious: 

1. The Feet - Think of your legs as long levers attached to your pelvis. Small movements at your pelvis will feel bigger at your feet. At your feet, the CSR feels like an internal and external rotation that takes around 10 seconds to complete a cycle. You can try feeling this on someone else.

2. The Head - Try placing your elbows on a surface and gently holding your head in your hands. Now feel the bones of your skull under your palms, lighten your touch, settle your mind and body, and feel. After a while, you may notice your skull widening and narrowing under your hands. It is incredibly subtle, so don’t worry if you can’t feel it. You are alive, so you have a CSR!

Craniosacral therapists will tune into the CSR at these and different parts of your body and notice differences in how they feel it.  Places where the movement isn’t as well felt or when there is a noticeable difference in that movement will direct us to areas of your body that need extra support and treatment.  The intended goal of therapy is to assist the craniosacral rhythm.  This can include many different kinds of treatment or can involve working with the CSR more directly through still points and cranial pumping.  

During your treatment, your therapist may induce a pause in your CSR, which we call a still point.  When your rhythm resumes, it is often much more robust.  The intended results are a deep sense of relaxation followed by more alertness.  Still, point inducers are usually recommended as a do-it-yourself treatment between visits. 

A bonus of still point induction is better cerebral spinal fluid flow due to the light pressure-induced and released over the brain’s fourth ventricle. To self-clean, the central nervous system gets a full exchange of its cerebral spinal fluid four times daily. Usually, this is a slow movement through the brain tissues and the ventricles and subarachnoid spaces of the dura, but when we are in deep sleep, we get a more profound cleaning cycle. If you have issues with sleep, still points are critical to promote this fluid exchange.

Cranial pumping is used to observe the CSR and add a little nudge at the end range of motion to provide additional support.

There you have it: the craniosacral rhythm.  Working with this simple, measurable, and palpable body rhythm makes craniosacral therapy what it is.  It is also what unites craniosacral therapists.  Providers of craniosacral therapy come from diverse backgrounds and with different licenses/training.  We each bring our unique skills and knowledge to the treatment table and may use other techniques, but we are all focused on CSR while we work.

If you would like to learn even more, please watch this video presentation from Thomas Rasmussen.

To our health, 

Danielle

To find a craniosacral therapist who has received training from the same school as me and who is near you, you can visit Upledger International.  You can search by your zip code or city and compare therapists based on their level of training.

References: 

1. Hiort, M, “CRI Measurement - A selective History,” 2017 http://craniofascial.com/cri-measurement-history/

2. Thomas Rosenkilde Rasmussen, Karl Christian Meulengracht, Direct measurement of the rhythmic motions of the human head identifies a third rhythm, Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, Volume 26, 2021, Pages 24-29, ISSN 1360-8592, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2020.08.018.

3. 5minuteschool, Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) explained in 3 Minutes - Function, Composition, Circulation, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWR3nML_R8Q

4. Hutton, T, “A Comment on the Relationship of Recent Research on CSF Production and Reabsorption to the Pressurestat Model” Upledger Institute International, 2013 https://www.iahe.com/docs/articles/Relationship-of-Recent-Research-on-CSF-Production-and-Reabsorption-to-the-Pressurestat-Model-2013.pdf?_gl=1*1j0dzvp*_ga*MTE3Mjg5MDI0Ni4xNjY5NjU5NDM3*_ga_2NPCRHNTWG*MTY2OTgyNDI3Mi4yLjEuMTY2OTgyNDMyOS4wLjAuMA.

5. Sakka, Laurent & Coll, G & Chazal, J. (2011). Anatomy and physiology of cerebrospinal fluid. European annals of otorhinolaryngology, head and neck diseases. 128. 309-16. 10.1016/j.anorl.2011.03.002.

6. Upledger Institute International, Avadhan Larsen, Ther Brain Speaks 1 - Attended live, October 3-6, 2024

7. Upledger Institute International, Craniosacral Rhythm Research - Published Scientific Paper Presentation by Thomas Rasmussen Accessed 10/7/2024 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1K9234J5ZnA