The Cranial Sphere and the Craniocervical Region

This is a complex region of the body responsible for body-wide altered physiology, specific and diffuse overlapping symptoms.

In this course we will discuss the cranial and craniocervical region and highlight the interaction and functional continuities between the musculoskeletal system, the various branches of the nervous system, the connective tissue and membranous systems, and craniospinal fluid dynamics.

The explore and systematize this for clinical use we will use principles from embryology, anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology, and integrate that with osteopathic assessment and treatment.

We will highlight the challenges in clinical practice where patients often present with a overlapping symptoms and multisystem presentations, where in most cases a definite pathological diagnosis is lacking.

Based on the information detailed and assessed in this course, therapeutic strategies, treatments, and techniques to manage dysfunctions and symptoms will be outlined, so that upon completion of this course this can immediately be applied to patient management in clinical practice

For every theoretical section there will be practical demonstration of assessment and osteopathic treatment techniques to influence clinically the topic being discusses.

This will include direct techniques, indirect techniques, membranous techniques, fluid approaches, homeostatic-enhancing maneuvers and reflex-based techniques, as well as the integration of such approaches in treatment strategies of the patien.

Content of the Course

Morphology, joint mechanics, and muscle dynamics of the upper cervical spine

• The atypical cervical spine, morphology, tissue dynamics and dysfunctions
• The tissue field: suboccipital muscles, myodural bridges, fluid dynamics and sensory organs
• Upper cervical metamers and cybernetic regulatory systems: neuroregulation of the metameric functional unit (the whole-body effects of upper cervical treatment)

Neuroanatomy and neurophysiology of the upper cervical spine

• The cervical plexus and cranial nerves
• The cervicotrigeminal nucleus as a convergence-hub
• The trigeminal pain matrix
• The upper cervical region and the autonomic nervous system
• Neurovisceral integration

Craniospinal fluid dynamics

• Venolymphatic pumping mechanisms (VPM)
• Hemodynamics of the spine and the cranium
• Confluence of venous sinuses
• The basilar plexus, the atlantooccipital plexus, the suboccipital plexus and the internal vertebral venous plexus: flow dynamics and congestion
• Venous congestion and the nervous system - Intracranial - Upper cervical cord and peripheral nerves
• The lymphatic system of the craniocervical region
• Intracranial pressure regulation: ebb and flow of tissue fluids

Exploring the craniocervical fascial and connective tissue continuities

• The concept of a mediastinum from the base of the skull to the pelvic floor as a neurovascular conduit
• Making sense of the cervical fascia: from the intracranial membranes to the diaphragm
• The cranial and membranous interface: dural stress and dynamic

Cranial and visceral symptoms in mechanical pelvic dysfunction

• Atrhromusculuar control loops, brainstem, neural reflexes, longissimus and iliocostalis muscles
• The Silverstolpe-reflexes
• The sacrotuberous ligament syndrome (Middtun and Bojsen-Möller)
• The sacrum, coccygeus and the filum terminale

Management of reflexes: fluid congestion and tissues strain

Crediti ECM

Crediti ECM per Fisioterapisti, Infermieri, Tecnici sanitari di radiologia medica, Terapisti occupazionali, Massofisioterapisti.

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