There are many types of headaches. Some of these include migraines, cluster headaches, tension headaches, cervical headaches and I am sure others as well. I found a common theme with many of my patients who have headaches and I wanted to write an article and explain one of the common findings I see in patients who come to my clinic complaining of a long standing history of headache pain. One common finding is a history of falls or injuries to the tailbone as well as falls or injuries to the head. Throughout my practice, I have come to see a pattern and thought it would be useful to explain how headaches could be caused from incidents which happened in the past even to far removed areas of the body.

The mechanism by which this can happen is due to the connection between the tailbone and the head. The spinal cord is encased in a dural tube. This dural tube is continuous with the inner membranes of the head as well as attaching to the second cervical vertebrae and the sacrum and tailbone. Because of this connection, problems in the tailbone area could be affecting the head and visa versa. This connection has been termed “the core link” by William Sutherland, D.O. I thought it would be useful to explain how the core link functions and how injuries to one part of it could affect other areas of the body. A question and answer type format seems to be a simple way to explain it.

How does the core link function?

Normally the core link has a gentle rhythmic motion. There is a natural motion that occurs in the head called the craniosacral rhythm which moves on a cycle of 6 to 12 pulses per minute. During the cycle, the head expands slightly and the occiput, or back of the head, rocks down toward the tailbone, the dural tube lengthens and the sacrum and tailbone rock down towards the feet. The continuation of the cycle results in the tailbone rocking back up towards the head, the dural tube moving toward the head, and the head narrowing. This is a natural motion in our bodies just like our breathing and heart rates. When healthy, this motion is full, vibrant, and unrestricted.

How come I never feel it moving?

This rhythm, the craniosacral rhythm, is very small in amplitude. You can feel it on yourself with practice by placing your hands on your head and simply waiting patiently. Wait and calm your hands. Use very light pressure and you may be able to feel a very small expanding and narrowing movement in your head. This is the craniosacral rhythm! It takes a therapist much training and practice to be able to feel and evaluate this rhythm. A skilled therapist can palpate and feel not only the rhythm, but also determine whether or not it is moving freely or if it is restricted, and where it is restricted.

How can it get restricted?

Say you fell on your tailbone as a child, and jammed your tailbone so it is no longer moving as it should. Now one end of this core link no longer moves well. So instead of the head, dural tube, and tailbone moving freely from one end of the body to the other, the tailbone end is now tight. The head now has to pull on the dural tube and there is less rhythm, vitality, and health in this area.

Yeah, but everyone falls down!

Yes, we all have had falls throughout our lives. Some of us have more than others. Some of us heal more fully than others from falls. On the other hand, some of us hit our bodies in just the right way to cause the tailbone or sacrum to get stuck. These falls can cause a lingering restriction that may or may not be painful later on. Even if not painful, it can still limit the way the core link functions and decrease the overall health in this area. This makes a person less adaptable to further insults to their body.

But don’t our bodies adapt and heal?

Our bodies are amazing. They do heal although usually with a remaining tightness or restriction (many times not painful). We can go through life with other falls or sprains and our bodies adapt again and again with different little tightness’ and restrictions developing. However, if we get too many of these tightness’ and restrictions so our bodies are unable to adapt, then a structure is stressed a little bit beyond what it can handle and pain develops. Sometimes to the person, if feels as if the pain develops for no apparent reason. For example, all of the sudden starting to have headaches.

So what about the headache?

If a person has a history of a fall or falls on their tailbone, this could certainly be a factor in their headache development. Many times treatment directed to the head or neck brings only temporary relief. This is because the actual problem lies in the restricted motion in the tailbone and sacrum. This limits the dural tube mobility and the ability of the head to expand and contract in its normal cycle. Treatment to the tailbone could help clear the headache problem. Many times, a few areas of primary restriction are needing work in order to clear the headache.

What about falls on the head?

The head is the other end of the core link so of course falls on ones head throughout life can cause that end of the core link to become restricted and cause headaches, or other pains throughout the body. Many times I find people with headaches who have a history of falls on both their head and their tailbone throughout their life. In some of these cases, I have found very little motion in their core link. By releasing the problems in their head as well as the dural tube and tailbone, I have been able to help many of these people. How can a practitioner tell if there is a problem in the core link? A therapist who is trained in the craniosacral approach can palpate and actually feel restrictions in the head, dural tube, and sacrum/coccyx (tailbone). They can determine where to direct treatment effectively to clear restrictions in the core link.

What does a craniosacral treatment feel like?

Craniosacral treatment is quite relaxing. The therapist usually uses small amounts of pressure. Five to thirty grams of pressure on various parts of the head, neck, spine and tailbone. Patient’s report a variety of sensations such as less tension, more openness, less sinus pressure, clearing headaches, a lifting feeling, and others.

How can I tell if the treatment is working?

Successful treatment means the headache which has been present should clear up or decrease significantly as the treatment progresses. Also, the frequency or number of times the headache occurs during the week and the intensity (how bad the headache feels to the person) should also decrease significantly even after the first treatment.

How can I tell if someone is trained in this type of therapy?

1. Ask if they have any craniosacral therapy training. You can also ask how many craniosacral classes they have had and their thoughts on craniosacral therapy.

2. Ask them how they would treat a headache. A skilled professional should be able to say they would evaluate and locate the actual cause of the problem. You could also ask them about the core link and if they have heard of any connection between other parts of the body and headaches to see if they believe in this type of approach.

3. Of course craniosacral therapy is but one method and works best in a total body approach.

This is just some information I felt would be useful to persons who have had continuous headache problems and have been unable to find successful treatment for them. Craniosacral therapy can be a useful part of the treatment of headaches.