Organizer: CranioSomatic Rehab Institute
Date: October 18 – 20
Instructors: G. Dallas Hancock, DC, PhD & Flo Barber-Hancock, LMT, PhD. Michal Niedzielski, PT, PRC
Location: Leeds, Weetwood Hall Hotel Otle Road, Leeds LS16 5PS, UK
Time: Start at 9:00 AM and end about 6PM
Contact person: Martin Higgins Email: martin@martinhigginsclinic.co.uk
Note: We will be using PowerPoints throughout the lectures; we will also bring a few model cranial bone sets for student use.
Course Description
Foundations 1 & 2 is the beginning of the CranioSomatic Therapy series. First, it 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. 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 primary treatment objective of the first section is for students to become confident in performing the 13-Step Protocol of Sutural Releases. These techniques release sutural restrictions of the vault and facial regions. The second objective is to relate each sutural restriction to one or more muscles (which will be inhibited when the suture is restricted, but will strengthen when the suture is released). The 13-Step Protocol can be used as a stand-alone treatment, in conjunction with other modalities, and as a self-care therapy. The 13-Step protocol and other sutural releases are integral parts of all CranioSomatic modules. Foundations 1 & 2 is a prerequisite for taking CSI (CranioSomatic Integration).
The second focus of Foundations is on understanding and treating the 10 named cranial (Sphenobasilar) patterns. This section provides participants with the knowledge and skills to identify and correct the ten sphenobasilar (SB) patterns using cranial range-of-motion (ROM) procedures. The AK techniques presented in the first section are now applied in the pre- and post-testing of the SB patterns. Each SB pattern is correlated with both sutural restrictions and global patterns of musculoskeletal compensation. More advanced vault and facial sutural release techniques are also presented. Clinical experience applying the SB pattern releases is essential for the CranioStructural Integration workshop.
Course Goals - CSF-1: the 13-Step Protocol of Sutural releases
Course attendees will have a clear understanding of:
- History of cranial therapy
- CranioSomatic concepts and objectives
- Historical perspective on Applied Kinesiology
- How to perform Manual Muscle Testing in the context of CranioSomatics
- How to perform Therapy Localization and Challenge
- The osseous mobility of the cranial bones
- How vault sutural releases can affect cranial mobility
- The purpose of intraoral releases
- The value of releases for the anterior vault and face
- The importance of the 13-step Protocol of Sutural Releases
Course attendees will possess:
Skills to utilize basic and advanced methods to:
- Identify pertinent features of skull anatomy
- Apply palpation skills to locate and describe sutures on themselves and others.
- Utilize Manual Muscle Testing techniques from Applied Kinesiology (AK) to evaluate muscle function (inhibited or facilitated)
- Utilize Therapy Localization techniques from AK to evaluate sutures
- Apply the 13-Step Protocol of Sutural Release techniques
- Apply AK techniques to demonstrate muscle / suture relationships
- Perform pre- and post-treatment evaluations for sutural releases in conjunction with the 13-Step Protocol
- Describe ways to incorporate CranioSomatic concepts and the 13-Step Protocol into clinical practice
Course Goals - CSF-2: Sphenobasilar Patterns
Course attendees will have a clear understanding of:
- Sphenobasilar patterns as alterations in the balanced position and function of cranial structures
- The axes about which cranial Sphenobasilar (SB) movements are described
- The characteristics of the ten named SB patterns
- How SB patterns are mutually compensatory with spinal and pelvic patterns
- How SB patterns result in unique pelvic patterns
- How pelvic patterns result in unique Sphenobasilar patterns
- The pattern of muscle function associated with each SB pattern
- That there is a unique pattern of sutural restrictions associated with each SB pattern
- How to identify and correct SB patterns using cranial ROM procedures.
- How Sphenobasilar ROM can be used as a ‘stand-alone’ treatment procedure.
Course attendees will possess:
Skills to utilize basic and advanced methods to:
- Describe (in words or gestures) the Axes of Rotation for the 10 SB patterns
- Demonstrate the movements of the 4 SB patterns on the transverse axes
- Take a cranium through the 4 SB patterns on the transverse axes
- Demonstrate the movements of the 2 SB patterns on the A -P axes
- Perform the 2 sphenobasilar patterns that occur on the A -P axes
- Demonstrate the movements of the 4 SB patterns on the vertical axes
- Take a cranium through the 4 SB patterns on the vertical axes
- Identify a Sphenobasilar pattern using Muscle Testing results associated with that SB pattern
- Demonstrate the 10 Sphenobasilar Ranges of Motion (ROM) using hand gestures
- Demonstrate the use of the 13-Step Protocol of Sutural Releases to clear a Sphenobasilar pattern
- Correct a Sphenobasilar pattern using cranial ROM procedures as a ‘stand-alone’ treatment
Course schedule (3 Days)
| 18th October | |
| 08:30~09:00 | Registration |
| 09:00~9:30 | Introductions; Course Objectives; Overview of CSF -1 & 2 and Syllabus |
| 09:30~10:00 | Brief summary of pre-course study material: Terms; Osseous anatomy of the skull; Cranial history; |
| 10:00~10:30 | CranioSomatic concepts; Outcome-oriented therapy; Assessment Methods: Introduction to Applied Kinesiology |
| 10:30~11:00 | Using Manual Muscle Testing (MMT) Lecture with demonstration |
| 11:00~11:30 | Table-Time: Students practice Manual Muscle Testing (MMT) |
| 11:30~12:00 | Therapy Localization (TL) & Challenge (CH). Lecture with demo |
| 12:00~12:30 | Table-Time: Students practice Therapy Localization (TL) & Challenge |
| 12:30 ~1:00 | Lunch |
| 1:00~1:30 | Lunch |
| 1:30~2:00 | Cranial Palpation; Osseous mobility; Sutural bevels; Lecture w demo |
| 2:00 ~2:30 | Sutural Releases 1-3: 1 Superior Vault and 3 Decompression Releases |
| 2:30~3:00 | Table-Time: Partner palpation of sutures, & practice first 4 releases |
| 3:00 ~3:30 | Sutural Releases 4-5:…2 Vault Decompression Releases. Lecture/demo |
| 3:30~4:00 | Table-Time: Students perform Vault Decompression Releases |
| 4:00 ~4:30 | Sutural Releases 6-8:…Intraoral Releases: Lecture w demonstration |
| 4:30~5:00 | Table-Time: Students perform the 3 Intraoral Releases |
| 5:00~5:30 | Questions & Review of these 8 techniques; Table-time: Students perform the 8 releases on each other |
| 5:30~6:00 | Recap of the day; Discussion; general Question / Answer. |
| 19th October | |
| 08:30~09:00 | Registration |
| 09:00~9:30 | Feedback: Responses to & Discussion of Day 1; Overview for today |
| 09:30~10:00 | Table-time: Students perform the 8 previous releases on each other |
| 10:00~10:30 | Sutural release 9: Sphenosquamous Pivot Release. Lecture & Demo |
| 10:30~11:00 | Table-time: Students perform Sphenosquamous (SS) Pivot Release |
| 11:00~11:30 | Techniques 10-13; Facial Region: Zygomatic Releases. Lecture / Demo |
| 11:30~12:00 | Table-time: Students perform the 4 Zygomatic Releases; Questions & Review of the 5 new techniques. |
| 12:00~12:30 | Table-time: Students perform the complete 13-Step Protocol |
| 12:30 ~1:00 | Lunch |
| 1:00~1:30 | Lunch |
| 1:30~2:00 | Sphenobasilar movements & patterns; 3 axes & 10 SBS movements: Handholds for SB Releases; Lecture & Demo with occiput & sphenoid |
| 2:00 ~2:30 | Identification Procedures; Direct & Indirect Action Techniques |
| 2:30~3:00 | Movements on Transverse Axes: Flexion / Extension & Vertical Strains |
| 3:00 ~3:30 | Table-time: Students perform 4 movements on Transverse Axes |
| 3:30~4:00 | Movements on Inclined A/P Axes: Right & Left Torsions; “Cranial Tai Chi” (Hand-motions for the SB movements) |
| 4:00 ~4:30 | Table-time: Students perform movements on A/P Axes: R & L Torsion |
| 4:30~5:00 | Movements on the Vertical Axes: Right & Left Sidebending Students do “Cranial Tai Chi” as a group |
| 5:00~5:30 | Questions & Review of these 8 Sphenobasilar movements Table-time: Students perform the 8 SB movements on each other Table-time: Students perform the complete 13-Step Protocol |
| 5:30~6:00 | Recap of the day; Discussion; general Question / Answer. |
| 20th October | |
| 08:30~09:00 | Registration |
| 09:00~9:30 | Table-time: Students perform the complete 13-Step Protocol |
| 09:30~10:00 | Movements on the Vertical Axes: Right & Left Lateral Strains |
| 10:00~10:30 | Students do “Cranial Tai Chi” as a group Table-time: Students perform Right & Left Lateral Strains |
| 10:30~11:00 | Symptoms & Eval for SB Patterns on Transverse Axes; Lecture & demo |
| 11:00~11:30 | Symptoms & Eval for SB Patterns on A/P Axes; Lecture & demo Discussion: Students’ experiences with Symptoms and Patterns |
| 11:30~12:00 | Symptoms & Eval for SB Patterns on A/P Axes; Lecture & demo Questions & Answers / Review of the 10 Sphenobasilar Movements |
| 12:00~12:30 | Table-time: Students perform the complete 13-Step Protocol |
| 12:30 ~1:00 | Lunch |
| 1:00~1:30 | Lunch (Distribute Evaluation forms) |
| 1:30~2:00 | Suture/Somatic relationships; Advanced Sutural Releases; Superior Vault: Review plus 2: Coronal & Lambdoidal; Lecture & demo Anterior Vault and Facial Region: 5 facial Releases; Lecture & demo |
| 2:00 ~2:30 | Table-time: Students perform Vault releases: Coronal & Lambdoidal; Students perform 5 facial Releases: review 4 Releases |
| 2:30~3:00 | Anterior Vault and Facial Region: 5 facial Releases; Lecture & demo |
| 3:00 ~3:30 | Table-time: Students perform 5 facial Releases; review 4 Releases |
| 3:30~4:00 | Lateral Vault: Parieto-Temporal w related muscles; Lecture & demo |
| 4:00 ~4:30 | Vault Decompression Releases |
| 4:30~5:00 | Table-time: Students perform ParietoTemporal & Vault Decompressio |
| 5:00~5:30 | Questions & Review of the Course Content Table-time: Students perform the 10 SB movements on each other |