Techniques & Special Terms

Question 1

What is a Facilitated Segment?

Answer 1

Dr. Korr, DO, 1940’s defined it as, “an area of irritation within the spinal cord segment between two vertebral bodies and the sensory and motor nerves that exit that area”.

Dr. Upledger: the stimulus threshold in a particular spinal cord segment has been reduced… is highly excitable, and that a smaller stimulus will trigger impulse firing in the segment.

A Facilitated Segment can be an active or inactive lesion. It follows the nerve pathway from the root to the end.

There is an increase in CSR rate at the Facilitated Segment.

Question 2

How do you recognize and evaluate a Facilitated Segment?

Answer 2

Check with dural tube traction, rock and glide.

Check with Perispinal Skin Drag, Rub Test or Skin Test.

Check for increased CSR rate.

Loss of tissue vitality, muscle or organ function.

Increased electrical signals,
extra sensitive or triggery.

Vertebral segments with increased tone,
spinous process sensitivity when tapped,
“red reflex”,
“shoddy texture” with neural pathway strain pattern.

Question 3

How do you treat a Facilitated Segment?

Answer 3

• Any CNS relaxation technique.
• Relieve the aggravating feedback loop.
• Direction of Energy,
• Regional Tissue Release of the vertebra,
• Dural Tube Traction,
• Dural Tube Rock and Glide
• Treat the relationship of corresponding organ
• Diaphragm Releases can be effective for treating the whole nerve distribution pathway,

Question 4

Describe the “Unlatching Phenomenon” and its significance to CranioSacral Therapy.

Answer 4

The “Unlatching Phenomenon” is an indirect technique for inducing a release by working in the direction of ease instead of the direction of of barrier. Some types of fasteners such as push-to-release latches for cabinet doors require a push into the direction of closure in order to release the catching mechanism so it will open.

Question 5

What cranial release techniques utilize the Unlatching Phenomenon?

Answer 5

1. The parietal medial compression (not a true compression-decompression). It unlatches the parietals from the temporals along the squamous sutures.
2. Sphenoid and TMJ Compression-Decompression techniques.

Question 6

Describe an Energy Cyst and the 4 Dr’s who developed the concept.

Answer 6

Coined by Dr. Elmer Green of the Menninger Foundation.

Dr. Upledger defines an Energy Cyst as “a localized, concentrated area of foreign, disorganized energy”, “a localized area of increased entropy, which the host’s body has ‘walled off,’” and an “active lesion … in the generalized osteopathic sense of a localized tissue dysfunction.”

The theoretical concept of an Energy Cyst was developed by Dr. Upledger, Dr. Karni, Dr. Retzlaff and Dr. Green, while working with trauma patterns found in the body.

Question 7

How do you find and evaluate an Energy Cyst?

Answer 7

Arcing

Question 8

In what forms can an Energy Cyst be classified?

Answer 8

Fascial Restriction, Facilitated Segment or Craniosacral Dysfunction

Question 9

How can an Energy Cyst be treated?

Answer 9

Direction of Energy (DOE),
Regional Tissue Release (RTR) and SomatoEmotional Release (SER).

For sphenobasilar dysfunctions: treat with Sutherland’s approaches.

Question 10

What is Regional Tissue Release (RTR)?

Answer 10

Regional Tissue Release (RTR) is a form of positional release, also called Strain/Counterstrain.

Re-create the angle, vector and/or position of the client’s body pursuant to the original injury.

This can be done by picking up a limb, or repositioning the client into the position when the even occurred.

The foreign energy of the Energy Cyst can most easily leave through the direction or position from which it originally entered. The position the client takes while the release is occurring can help the tissues line up correctly for release. It can also help the client consciously recognize what position they were in and what caused the Energy Cyst.

Question 11

How do you perform the Direction of Energy (DOE) technique?

Answer 11

To perform the Direction of Energy (DOE) technique, the therapist places their hands on or around the Energy Cyst using a very light touch.

The therapist asks to be of help energetically to the client, Blends and Melds, and sends energy into, through or around the Energy Cyst, tracks what happens and waits for release.

Question 12

What is the Significance Detector (SD) and how is it used during RTR to release and Energy Cyst?

Answer 12

The SD is when there is a sudden, significant stop of the craniosacral rhythm during treatment.

The Significance Detector (SD) is an important pointer for the therapist to know when the correct position of RTR has been found, for the release of the Energy Cyst to occur.

When performing the RTR technique, when the Significance Detector is felt, the therapist stops moving the limb and waits for release to occur.

Question 13

What are the 4 characteristics to look for when tuning into a craniosacral system?

Answer 13

Symmetry, Quality, Amplitude, Rate (SQAR)

Question 14

In what direction is the mandible tractioned in the decompression of the TMJ?

Answer 14

Inferiorly with a 10 degree anterior lift.

Question 15

Facilitated Segment affects and involves which structures?

Answer 15

Skin, fascia, muscle, joints, organs, blood vessels, etc of that segment…

The ventral and dorsal nerve roots,
The nerve distribution pathways,
The innervated tissues and
The end area or end organ.

Question 16

What is the Energy Cyst theory?

Answer 16

The theory is that a trauma entering the body from the outside carries with it a force of foreign energy.

If the body cannot dissipate this energy, to protect the rest of the body from this foreign energy, the body walls off, or encysts the area.

The body and mind can become very good at denying or avoiding the existence of Energy Cysts

Question 17

What is Arcing?

Answer 17

Arcing is used to find an Energy Cyst.

The bigger the arc or disturbance wave, the farther from the source. The smaller, more buzzy, more disorganized on a tighter level the waves are, the closer the Energy Cyst. Over the Energy Cyst itself, the tissues may be devoid of energy.

Following the arcing patterns of the energy disturbance with light touch will bring one closer to the source of the disorganization

Question 18

Osseus restrictions need to be cleared before membranous restrictions.
True or False?

Answer 18

True

Membranous restrictions may not appear or be treatable until osseus restrictions are treated.

Question 19

Osseus restrictions of the cranium are:

a. rigid, stuck, or jammed
b. elastic moving into traction, but could snap back
c. inhibits normal cranial bone movement
d. interferes with normal craniosacral rhythm throughout the body
e. a and c

Answer 19

e.

osseus restrictions are rigid, stuck or jammed and inhibit normal cranial bone movement.

Question 20

How to treat osseus restrictions?

Answer 20

a. Continued light traction
b. use a V-Spread along the suture
c. specific osseus manipulation for that suture (chiropractic and/or osteopathic)

Question 21

What does the Spring and Dashpot model describe in Craniosacral Therapy?

Answer 21

Treatment of a membranous cranial restriction, from elastic recoil to viscous compliance.
“To free an elastic recoil barrier.”

Question 22

How to treat a membranous restriction?

How do you know you are done?

Answer 22

Continuous light traction -
or
Direction of Energy -

Until the elastic phase of resistance becomes plastic or pliable and the involved cranial bones proceed freely toward the end point of their movement.

The membrane no longer has a traction load and is at rest.

“Viscous Compliance”