Center for Continuing Education of Osteopathy 

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INTRODUCTION TO THE FUNDAMENTALS OF CRANIAL OSTEOPATHY  Level I

  What will I learn during this course?
This four day course will teach you the theory and palpation skills in a small group setting to ensure more hands on practice time with the Instructor.  You will learn detailed anatomy which is crucial for performing precise, effective treatments.  We will then review the structure and function of the Cranial Mechanism from a Biomechanical approach (Sutherland).  You will learn correct hand placement and the palpation skills to be able to identify dysfunctions with the Cranial Rhythm and how to correct it.  These skills will prepare you to be able to incorporate basic but highly effective Cranial Osteopathy techniques into your Manual Therapy treatments, making them more global and more effective.  
All students wishing to register for this course are responsible for reading our Registration Policies.
This 25 hour course is a pre-requisite to our Advanced Cranial Pathologies series our for all Manual Therapists who are not fully trained in Cranial Osteopathy.  You will be eligible to be accredited for 25 CEU/CPD hours.  Accredited by the CMTO, CATA as well as several other Osteopathy associations

suitable for Manual Osteopathic Practitioners (DOMPs), Registered Massage Therapists (RMTs) , Physiotherapists ( PTs), or other Manual Therapist.  


Each participant receives a Complete Color Workbook containing diagrams, explanations of various cranial patterns of dysfunctions, Assessment Sheets, Clinic Practice Sheets for beginners, ect.

Watch this video!

Cranial Osteopathy Certification

A complete training in all aspects of biomechanical Cranial Osteopathy preparing the Practitioner to become an expert.  Certification is a total of 100 classroom hours and can be completed within one calendar year. 

The following are the courses required for achieving the ICEO Cranial Osteopathy Certification:

INTRODUCTION TO THE FUNDAMENTALS OF CRANIAL OSTEOPATHY  Part I  (25 hrs)

INTRODUCTION TO THE FUNDAMENTALS OF CRANIAL OSTEOPATHY  Part II (25 hrs)

Location of this course:

North York Campus:


3300 Yonge Street
2nd floor
Toronto, ON M4N 2L6
Green P parking on Glenforest
Walk to Lawrence station
3300 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4N 2L6

INTRODUCTION TO THE FUNDAMENTALS OF CRANIAL OSTEOPATHY 
Level I
SUMMARY OF CURRICULUM


This four day course will teach the practitioner to understand the structure and function of the Cranial Mechanism for a Biomechanical approach (Sutherland).  This course was designed for Manual Therapists who do not have full training in Cranial Osteopathy and need to learn the fundamentals in order to participate in future more advanced continuing education courses with the ICEO where the use of Cranial Osteopathy is an integral part of Osteopathic Treatment.  It also prepares a student to take Part II and our Advanced Cranial Pathologies series.


Day 1


Sutherland’s contribution to Cranio-Sacral Treatment: “The Primary Respiratory Mechanism”

Functional anatomy of the cranium, sacrum, & connective tissue

Learning to palpate for and locate the components of the cranium

BREAK

The Importance of cranial sutures

A review of suture anatomy & suture compaction

Learning to locate cranial sutures 

Treating suture compression using the V-spread technique

The Importance of the dura mater in cranio-sacral treatment

Learning to locate the dura mater & its points of attachment


Day 2


The Primary Respiratory Mechanism and Cranio-Sacral Motion’s Mechanism

The Cranio-Sacral Rhythmic Impulse (CRI) & the Cranio-Sacral Rhythm

The centre of it all: the Spheno-Basilar Symphesis (SBS)

BREAK

The phases of Cranio-Sacral Movement:

Flexion / Internal Rotation & Extension / External Rotation

Learning to palpate & identify the two phases of movement: Flexion & Extension


Day 3


Learning to palpate & identify the CRI on various patients

Learning to identify & treat Suture Compaction

Treating suture compression using the V-spread technique

                                                                                                                       BREAK

Correcting the Cranio-Sacral System in Flexion

Correcting the Cranio-Sacral System in Extension

Balancing the Cranio-Sacral System

Learning to integrate Cranio-Sacral Balancing into a massage treatment


Day 4


The Structure of the Cranio-Sacral Venous Sinus System (CVSS)

Conditions related to Reduced Venous Sinus Drainage

Common examples of causes of Cranio-Sacral pathologies

How to identify pathologies the Venous Sinus System

BREAK

Learning to palpate for & identify pathologies of the cranio-sacral venous sinus system

The implication of the 3rd and 4th ventricles in Intra-Cranial Congestion

Pathologies of the Venous Sinus System & how they relate to Massage Therapy

Activating Drainage of the Cranial Venous Sinus System

CV4 technique – pumping the skull


Level II:
CONTINUING FUNDAMENTALS OF CRANIAL OSTEOPATHY 
Learning to Identify & Treat Dysfunctional Cranial Patterns

SUMMARY OF CURRICULUM

Day 1


Dysfunctional patterns of Cranio-Sacral motion
Compactions
SBS Torsion

Learning to palpate for Compactions & SBS Torsions

Learning to use the Cranio-Sacral Assessment Chart

BREAK

Cranio-Sacral Pathologies


Dysfunctional patterns of Cranio-Sacral Motion:

Vertical Strain / Vertical Shear

Learning to Palpate, identify, & treat Vertical Strain / Vertical Shear

Learning to use the Cranio-Sacral Assessment Chart

Lateral Strains / Shears


Day 2

Side bending Rotation

Learning Classic Patterns of Postural Decompensation related to the Cranio-Sacral System 

Group Practice using the Cranio-Sacral Assessment Chart


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ADVANCED CRANIAL PATHOLOGIES SERIES
Level III

Levels I & II are pre-requisites for participating in this series
if you believe that you qualify to be exempt from Levels I & II please email our Instructor