Craniopathy in Waldwick NJ

Cranial Bone Alignment: A Complementary Approach to Spinal Care

While traditional chiropractic focuses on spinal alignment, craniopathy specializes in adjusting the bones of the skull. This practice aims to improve the alignment and mobility of cranial bones in Waldwick NJ.

The skull houses about 80% of the central nervous system. By addressing cranial imbalances, practitioners seek to:

1. Enhance facial and cranial symmetry
2. Promote overall neurological balance
3. Support the parasympathetic nervous system ("rest and digest" mode)
4. Reduce overactivity in the sympathetic nervous system ("fight or flight" mode)

---

Benefits of Craniopathy in Waldwick NJ

Craniopathy may be beneficial when used alongside spinal treatments, especially for conditions that don't fully respond to spinal adjustments alone.

This approach may be considered for various conditions, including:

• Breastfeeding difficulties (particularly issues with gagging and latching)
• Asymmetrical skull shape
• Plagiocephaly (flat spots on the head)
• Recurrent ear infections
• Sinus Issues & Allergies
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Epilepsy and seizure disorders
• Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ/TMJD)
• Migraine headaches
• Learning disabilities
• Traumatic brain injuries

Dr. Victoria Petruzzella Ciroalo & Dr. Josh Budzinski specializes in pediatric Sacro Occipital Technique and has extensive experience in craniopathy. They are skilled in managing these and other related conditions.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

---

WHAT IS CRANIOPATHY?

Chiropractic craniopathy is an advanced component of the Sacro Occipital Technique (S.O.T.), distinct from Craniosacral Therapy. It focuses on optimizing cranial function by addressing the positioning and movement of the skull's 22 interconnected bones. This practice aims to enhance the central nervous system's performance and adaptability.

---

Key Aspects of Craniopathy

1. Cranial Alignment: Misalignments (subluxations) can affect nervous system function and cause visible asymmetries in facial features and skull shape.
2. Adjustment Technique: Practitioners assess cranial suture mobility and cerebrospinal fluid flow. They then apply gentle, breath-synchronized pressure to reposition misaligned bones.
3. Benefits for Children: Craniopathy can be particularly effective for infants and young children due to their unfused cranial sutures, latching challenges, allergies, and more! In conjunction with chiropractic adjustments, it will positively influence developmental trajectories.
4. Birth-Related Issues: Cranial subluxations often result from birth complications. While even natural births can cause misalignments, medical interventions (e.g., C-sections, vacuum extractions) may increase the risk of more severe subluxations- especially in the cranium!
5. Developmental Impact: In infants, cranial misalignments can affect overall growth, skull shape, palate development, and feeding behaviors like breastfeeding and latching.

Craniopathy recognizes the significant role of the cranium in housing 80% of the central nervous system. By addressing cranial alignment, this approach aims to support proper nervous system function and overall development.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

---

Craniopathy and Chiropractic Care for Tongue, Lip, & Cheek Ties

Understanding Oral Ties: Tongue, lip, and cheek ties can significantly impact an infant's comfort, growth, and development. While these ties visibly restrict tongue and palate movement, affecting breastfeeding, their influence extends throughout the body, potentially impacting various systems, including digestion.

Non-Surgical Approach: In many cases, a combination of chiropractic care and craniopathy can create tissue flexibility, improving function - even without surgery in some cases. This approach aims to alleviate tie-related issues by addressing overall body mechanics.

Surgical Revision and Follow-Up Care: For severe cases, a pediatric dentist may recommend surgical revision. However, post-surgical chiropractic and craniopathic care is crucial for optimal recovery for the tissues of the mouth, cranium and upper cervical spine as they are all connected.

Post-Revision Rehabilitation: While surgical revision often brings immediate symptomatic relief, it can lead to temporary instability in the spine and cranium. This is due to the interconnected nature of the body's tissues.

An Analogy for Understanding: Imagine training for a marathon with your knees bound by a rubber band. The tie acts like this band, restricting movement. Surgical revision is akin to cutting this band, allowing for better function. However, just as a runner would need to retrain after long-term restricted movement, the body needs to relearn proper function post-revision.

---

Role of Chiropractic and Craniopathy

Post-revision chiropractic and craniopathic care focus on:

1. Retraining muscles and ligaments
2. Helping the brain adapt to new movement patterns
3. Restoring proper structural and functional balance throughout the body

This holistic approach aims to maximize the benefits of tie revision and support overall developmental progress.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

---

CRANIOPATHY FOR PLAGIOCEPHALY

Plagiocephaly, commonly known as flat-head syndrome, occurs when a baby develops a flattened area on one side or the back of the head. This condition can arise from various factors.

Common Causes:

1. Insufficient "tummy time," leading to underdeveloped neck and cranial muscles
2. Limited neck range of motion or a preference for turning the head to one side

These issues may stem from spinal misalignments and can benefit from pediatric chiropractic care, whether plagiocephaly has already developed or as a preventive measure.

---

Chiropractic and Craniopathy Approach

When cranial involvement is present, a combination of chiropractic care and craniopathy can significantly improve head shape. This approach focuses on:

• Balancing internal cranial tissue tension
• Enhancing cranial suture movement
• Promoting symmetrical head development

---

Working Alongside Traditional Treatments

For children prescribed helmets by pediatricians, chiropractic and craniopathy can complement this treatment. At Flourish Chiropractic & Wellness, we've observed that children receiving these therapies often show faster progress. We recommend:

• Informing the pediatrician about the concurrent chiropractic and craniopathy care
• Requesting more frequent head measurements (half the usual interval between check-ups)

This approach ensures that the helmet continuously fits the child's rapidly changing head shape, potentially shortening the overall treatment duration.

By addressing underlying structural issues and promoting proper cranial development, chiropractic and craniopathy offer a holistic approach to managing plagiocephaly, either as a standalone treatment or in conjunction with traditional methods.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​