Cranial Adjusting and Facial Asymmetry: What to Know

Some degree of facial asymmetry is normal — very few faces are perfectly symmetrical. What I’m interested in during an examination is whether a particular pattern of asymmetry appears connected to a person’s history or symptoms.

What I look for

I evaluate facial and cranial symmetry, eye level, and head position as part of a broader examination — not as a stand-alone diagnosis. A history of facial trauma, orthodontic treatment, or birth-related factors can all be relevant to what I find.

Why asymmetry can be a useful clue

Noticeable asymmetry sometimes points toward an area worth examining more closely. It doesn’t, by itself, tell me that a restriction is present or that it’s causing a particular symptom — it’s one piece of information among several.

What I’ve observed clinically

I’ve seen cases where facial trauma years earlier appeared relevant to symptoms elsewhere in the body once I looked closely at cranial and facial findings. These are individual clinical observations, not a general claim about facial asymmetry and its causes.