IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH WITH
Craniosacral Therapy in Salem, OR
TLDR: Craniosacral Summary
While Craniosacral therapy is a complex and nuanced topic, we’ve boiled down the info we think you’ll value most. (After that, we couldn’t help but get nerdy and detailed for those who want to understand and learn even more!)
What is Craniosacral Therapy?
A deeply restorative, non-invasive therapy that works directly with the membranes and fluids surrounding your brain and spinal cord to calm a hyperactive nervous system and relieve deep structural tension and systemic patterns
Who will benefit from Craniosacral therapy?
Those experiencing:
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Chronic migraines, tension headaches, or lingering concussive symptoms / TBI
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Stubborn jaw tension, clicking, or pain associated with TMJD
- Chronic pain, including back and neck pain
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Persistent physical exhaustion, high stress, anxiety, or autonomic nervous system burnout
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Fibromyalgia, central sensitization, or systemic body pain
- Autism, ADHD
- Neuralgia & Neuropathy
- Scoliosis
- Symptoms lingering from Stroke
What to expect:
A profound sense of relaxation
The Science and Efficacy of Craniosacral Therapy (CST)
Craniosacral Therapy (CST) is a non-invasive manual therapy focused on evaluating and optimizing the physiological function of the craniosacral system
What Is the Biological Mechanism Behind the Cranial Rhythmic Impulse (CRI)?
Historically, manual therapists used the term Craniosacral Rhythm (CSR) to describe the subtle, cyclical expansion and contraction felt during palpation
Understanding the Mechanics of the CRI
The CRI is an autonomous, low-frequency physiological oscillation that operates entirely independent of the cardiovascular (heartbeat) and respiratory (breathing) cycles
In light of recent research, there are now two ways of understanding the craniorhythmic impulse – one historical and one newly developing.
- Hydrodynamic Pressurestat Shifts: (the historical view) The cyclical production, circulation, and reabsorption of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) within the ventricular system, which creates a rhythmic fluctuation in intracranial pressure
When physical restrictions manifest in the cranial sutures, intracranial membranes (such as the falx cerebri and tentorium cerebelli), or the spinal dural tube, the amplitude and symmetry of the CRI are compromised
*Photo: Blausen.com staff (2014). “Medical gallery of Blausen Medical 2014”. WikiJournal of Medicine 1 (2).
What Should I Expect During a Clinical CST Session?
Because the craniosacral system directly shields the central nervous system, treatments are inherently non-forceful, deeply relaxing, and structurally restorative
Clinical Assessment
Nick is an Upledger Certified Craniosacral Therapist.
The practitioner begins by placing their hands on key conduction points—including the cranium, the thoracic inlet, and the sacrum—to evaluate the frequency, amplitude, and symmetry of your Cranial Rhythmic Impulse (CRI)
Targeted Release
Utilizing a sustained, 5-gram touch, the therapist assists the body in releasing restrictions within the fascia and cranial bones
The Stillpoint Phenomenon
During a session, the therapist may facilitate a “stillpoint”—a momentary increase in coherance between physiologic rhythms, ie cardiovascular, respiratory, CRI.
Our theory on this seems to be well supported by evidence, which is that when the increase in coherence occurs, there becomes an excess of free energy in the system, which precipitates a moment of critical reorganization, resulting in more integrated functioning post-stillpoint.
Primary Clinical Indications
Specialty Craniosacral Therapy at Center Point Healing is utilized as an effective primary or adjunctive treatment for:
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Chronic Pain & Headaches: Migraines, tension headaches, concussive symptoms, and traumatic brain injury (TBI) recovery
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Structural Boundaries: Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJD) and chronic jaw/neck tension
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Neurological Regulation: Autonomic nervous system dysregulation, chronic fatigue syndrome, central sensitization, and fibromyalgia
- Chronic pain
Including back and neck pain -
Autonomic Issues:
Persistent physical exhaustion, high stress, anxiety, or autonomic nervous system burnout -
Fibromyalgia, central sensitization, or systemic body pain
- Autism, ADHD
- Neuralgia & Neuropathy
- Scoliosis
- Symptoms lingering from Stroke
What Does Clinical Evidence Say About the Existence of the CRI?
While historically debated as a subjective clinical observation, contemporary biomedical research has confirmed the physical existence, distinct frequency, and normative baseline of the Cranial Rhythmic Impulse
Direct Objective Measurement of the "Third Rhythm"
A landmark study published in the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, titled “Direct Measurement of the Rhythmic Motions of the Human Head Identifies a Third Rhythm” (Rasmussen & Meulengracht, 2021), provided definitive, objective proof of this physiological phenomenon
Using a custom-designed, highly sensitive robotics apparatus with servo actuators placed at the temporal mastoids, researchers tracked real-time head micromovements in 50 healthy adults in a resting, supine state over a 42-minute period
The study successfully isolated three distinct physical rhythms acting on the human head:
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The Arterial Pulse: Averaging 57 cycles per minute (cpm)
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The Respiratory Rhythm: Averaging 14 cpm
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The Third Rhythm (The CRI): Averaging 6.16 cycles per minute (cpm) within a tight, dynamic normative range of 4.25 to 7.07 cpm
The researchers discovered that the CRI is a distinct wave-within-a-wave function, featuring an average physical movement amplitude of 58 micrometers—a physical displacement large enough to be clearly detected by highly trained manual palpation
Neurological and Sensorimotor Integration
Building upon these physiological baselines, recent clinical trials evaluate how the manual modulation of this rhythm impacts the central nervous system
The study demonstrated that systematic manual releasing of craniosacral blocks correlates with measurable improvements in standardized neurodevelopmental assessment scores (BDI-2) and a significant reduction in the clinical expression of retained primitive reflexes
Clinical Application at Center Point Healing
At Center Point Healing, our advanced LMT practitioners are trained to precisely palpate the 6.16 cpm Cranial Rhythmic Impulse, utilizing this objective third rhythm to map dural tension and facilitate systemic neural restoration
Peer-Reviewed Scientific References
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Rasmussen, T. R., & Meulengracht, K. C. (2021). Direct measurement of the rhythmic motions of the human head identifies a third rhythm. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 26, 24–29.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2020.08.018 -
Frontiers in Public Health (2026). Short-term effects of craniosacral therapy and rhythmic movement training on developmental assessment scores and primitive reflex expression: a randomized controlled trial.
FAQ
What can I expect during my Craniosacral therapy session?
Before your Craniosacral Therapy session begins, your therapist will conduct a thorough intake assessment. Once you’re comfortable on the treatment table, they will assess your Cranial Rhythmic Impulse (CRI).
Typically treatment begins at the head. Your practitioner will begin by placing their hands on key conduction points – including the cranium, the thoracic inlet, and the sacrum – to evaluate the frequency, amplitute, and symmetry of your Cranial Rhythmic Impulse.
Utilizing a sustained, 5-gram touch, the therapist assists the body in releasing restrictions within the fascia and cranial bones
During a session, the therapist may facilitate a “stillpoint”—a momentary increase in coherance between physiologic rhythms, ie cardiovascular, respiratory, CRI. During a stillpoint, the central nervous system is systematically shielded from stress, allowing it to transition seamlessly from a sympathetic (fight-or-flight) state into a deep, parasympathetic recovery mode
Treatment is typically performed without the need to dress down.
Is the therapist Upledger Certified?
Yes – Nick has completed both CS1 and CS2 of the Upledger Certification Program.
How can a touch that barely feels like anything have such a profound effect on my pain?
It’s certainly understandable that you may be thinking that force and intensity are required to produce a response from the body – especially when symptoms have been persistent – but the opposite is often true. Craniosacral Therapy does not rely on mechanical force to enable powerful modulatory effects. Instead, it interacts directly with your central nervous system and cerebrospinal fluid pressurestat shifts
Since this therapy is directed toward the body’s connective tissue, we have to approach the connective tissue at the pressure that most effectively influences its nature. The connective tissue matrix is designed to resist big forces in the body, and at its nature it is very delicate albeit resilient, so light touch is more resonant than the pressure applied during other forms of therapy.
By applying an exceptionally light 5-gram touch
Will I experience improvement after one session?
It’s certainly possible to experience improvement after your first session. This is in fact a common occurrance. As with all therapeutic interventions, it really depends on the nature of your condition and the response of your body.
Will a Craniosacral session trigger a massive flare-up that sets me back weeks?
Because CST is inherently non-forceful and operates entirely within your body’s comfort threshold
Is Craniosacral Therapy safe for newborns and infants?
Yes. Because CST uses no more than 5 grams of pressure (the weight of a nickel)
How long is a typical craniosacral therapy session?
While session length varies based upon assessment, typically a standard treatment takes about an hour. Your therapist may suggest a longer session length based on the trajectory of your treatment and the intended outcome.
Can Craniosacral Therapy be a preventative treatment?
By facilitating the body’s natural and innate healing processes, CST is increasingly used as a preventive healthcare measure for its ability to bolster resistance to disease.
Upledger Institute International. (n.d.). www.upledger.com
Does Center Point Healing specialize in complex chronic conditions or generic relaxation work?
Our practice specializes in complex, persistent pain patterns and central sensitization
IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH WITH
Nick Forsberg, LMT
Office
2765 12th St. SE
Salem, Oregon
Phone Number
(503) 999-8796