Demonstrating the benefits of CST.
A recent search of research exploring craniosacral therapy revealed over 200 peer review studies have been published. The excel file of the references includes links to abstracts and where possible the full text for the papers.
The following are some examples that demonstrate how clients have benefited from receiving craniosacral therapy.
General pain A systematic review (2012) found that “pain and quality of life/general well-being can be improved by the use of craniosacral therapy”.
Chronic pain A systematic review in 2019 suggested “significant and robust effects of CST on pain and function, which are not exclusively explainable by placebo responses or effects due to non-specific treatment mechanisms”.
Lower back pain A Polish study (2014) concluded that “Craniosacral therapy may effectively reduce the intensity and frequency of pain in patients with non-specific low back pain”, “Craniosacral therapy reduces the resting tension of the multifidus muscle in patients with non-specific lumbosacral pain” and “Craniosacral therapy may be clinically effective in the treatment of patients with non-specific lumbosacral spine pain”.
Migraine The results from an Icelandic study (2012) indicated that “Craniosacral therapy can alleviate migraine symptoms”.
Neck pain A 2015 trial showed “CST was both specifically effective and safe in reducing neck pain intensity and may improve functional disability and the quality of life up to 3 months after intervention”.
Quality of life/general well-being A systematic review in 2012 found that “pain and quality of life/general well-being can be improved by the use of craniosacral therapy”.
Fibromyalgia A 2011 trial showed “Craniosacral therapy improved medium-term pain symptoms in patients with fibromyalgia”.