The Inherent Rhythmic Motion of the Brain and Spinal Cord - from The Cranial Academy.

This is a list of the studies backing up the inherent motility (non-finite movement) of the central nervous system that CranioSacral Therapists, Osteopaths, Biodynamic Cranial, and other manual therapists are working with to relieve trauma and help integrate this system. Motion of the central nervous system anatomy has been well documented in research studies from multiple sources mostly outside the osteopathic profession.

Studies:
Greitz, et al.1 utilizing MRI technology, found brain tissue motion related to the contraction phase of the heart, demonstrating a “piston-like” remolding of the brain.

Enzmann and Pelc2 demonstrated brain motion during the cardiac cycle with MRI technology.

Poncelet, et al.3 using echo-planar magnetic resonance imaging, demonstrated pulsatile motion of brain tissue (parenchyma), appearing consistent with the contraction phase of the heart.

Feinberg and Mark4 postulate that brain motion and the pulsatile nature of Cerebro-Spinal Fluid (CSF) are driven by the choroid plexus (specific brain tissue that creates CSF). Their MRI study suggested that the blood flow in the brain served as the force for CSF circulation.

Maier, et al.5 demonstrated periodic brain and CSF motion associated with movement of the blood through the head.

Mikulis, et al.6 demonstrated movement of the cervical spinal cord in a back and forth manner during the cardiac cycle.

The Primary Respiratory Mechanism (PRM) also proposes intracellular activity that contributes to the rhythmic motion of the Central Nervous System (CNS). Intracellular rhythmicity has been identified in animals and humans:

In 1935, Canti, Bland and Russell7 observed “a characteristic rhythmic pulsatility” in cultures of human brain cells (oligodendrocytes). “We believe also that we have seen similar cells in a few tissue culture preparations from the cortex of the normal human brain.”

In 1957 Lumsden, et al.8 filmed rat brain tissue (oligodendrocytes) under a microscope demonstrating a similar rhythmic pulsatility.

In 1957, Wolley and Shaw9 reported rhythmic contractions of the oligodendroglial cells of brain and spinal cord.

In the early 1960s Hyden10 reported that glial cells, grown in a tissue culture, pulsate continuously.

In 1998, Vern et al.11 were able to measure rhythmic oscillatory (back and forth) patterns related to metabolism in cat and rabbit brain cells (cortex), using more modern technology.

Dani et al.12 showed active waves of Calcium ion activity in rat astrocytes (brain cells) in response to nerve activity.

Summary

Experimental evidence demonstrates that the brain and spinal cord do have motion, which appears to be of a rhythmic nature. Biochemical activity inside the cell has also been identified, which produces a rhythmic activity of brain tissue.

Muscle cramps, soreness and carpal tunnel syndrome. Ah, the (not so) lovely side effects of a desk job. The solution? A relaxing (and discreet!) mini-yoga routine at your desk to unwind physically and mentally. Yesterday, FILA celebrity yoga guru Kristin Mcgee stopped by to show us a 6-move destress-at-your-desk routine that will leave you relaxed and renewed to tackle the rest of your busy day…

Why do we get L4/L5 disc compressions and subsequent bulging/herniation of disc and nerve inflammation:

When you have an asymmetrical pelvis you have one side of the pelvi that posterior tilts (superior aspect moves back compared to inferior ischial tuberosity which moves forward) and then shifts anterior in relation to the leg (which rotates lateral). The opposite side pelvi tilts anterior and develops a posterior shift in relation to the leg. The femur rotates medial in this relationship.

Now how this applies to you is that the sacrum is dragged along with pelvis and must sidebend to the posterior tilted side and rotates towards the anterior tilted posterior shifted pelvi. L5 must travel with sacrum (unless there has already been major trauma or surgery) due to its fascia and the only choice for the body is for 4th Lumbar to do a complete reversal (counterrotation). This forces L4 closer to L5 as the upward support for the thorax fails and this weight collapses into the twisted lumbar region. Usually L3/L2 reverse this counterotation and you get a bulging disc here as well. Structural Integration is the only answer to reverse this pattern. Period. I would have studied something else if something else worked.

This recent article in the New Yorker by Atul Gawande speaks to a central issue of the US Healthcare system which is broken at best - the overuse of medicine. And when it comes to your health in this case, more is definitely not better. The states with the most care ranked lowest in quality patient care.

In general surgery the gallbladder is known as the “golden thumb”. A quick, easy surgery that generates massive profits that is usually unneccesary with dietary changes and visceral manipulation to release the tension in the gallbladders compartment.

General surgeons are often asked to see patients with pain from gallstones. If there aren’t any complications—and there usually aren’t—the pain goes away on its own or with pain medication. With instruction on eating a lower-fat diet, most patients experience no further difficulties. But some have recurrent episodes, and need surgery to remove their gallbladder.
Seeing a patient who has had uncomplicated, first-time gallstone pain requires some judgment. A surgeon has to provide reassurance (people are often scared and want to go straight to surgery), some education about gallstone disease and diet, perhaps a prescription for pain; in a few weeks, the surgeon might follow up. But increasingly, I was told, McAllen surgeons simply operate. The patient wasn’t going to moderate her diet, they tell themselves. The pain was just going to come back. And by operating they happen to make an extra seven hundred dollars.