Cranial Adjusting: What It Is, How It Works & What to Expect

A precise, low-force approach to the bones, sutures and tissues of the skull — by Dr. Brant Larsen.

Most people think of the skull as one solid, motionless piece of bone. It isn’t.

The cranium is made up of multiple bones connected by specialized joints called sutures, surrounded by muscles, connective tissue, blood vessels, nerves, and the membranes that envelop the brain and spinal cord. Research has documented measurable deformation of the living human skull under load, though the amount of movement is extremely small and its clinical significance remains an area of active discussion.

Cranial adjusting is a hands-on approach focused on this system: identifying areas where movement or function appears restricted, and using precise, low-force contacts to help restore it.

My philosophy: “We don’t treat conditions. We treat people who have conditions.” I don’t approach cranial adjusting by asking what diagnosis I’m treating. I ask what this person’s cranial system is doing, and where movement is restricted.

Why would you adjust the skull?

The head is part of the body’s mechanical and neurological system. The cranium protects the brain, provides attachment points and passageways for numerous structures, and has an intimate relationship with the face, jaw, neck and upper spine.

I think of the skull as a machine. When one part of a machine isn’t moving properly, other parts often have to compensate. When I adjust the cranium, my goal is to free that system — not to force it into a particular position.

How I assess before I adjust

I don’t guess at what needs to be adjusted. My assessment typically includes:

  • History — including head injuries, concussions, falls, sports injuries and dental history, even from decades earlier
  • Examination — head position, facial symmetry, eye level, movement and range of motion
  • Muscle testing — I’ll test a muscle, apply pressure to a specific cranial structure, and test again; a change in that response gives me information about where to focus

After the adjustment, I retest. I want to know what changed — not simply assume that it did.

My approach: CFR & Afferentology

Cranial Facial Release (CFR) is the flagship technique in my cranial approach. Over more than 22 years, I’ve combined it with Afferentology and percussion-hammer technique. I use the technique that fits what my assessment finds — the method follows the finding, not the other way around.

What I don’t claim: Cranial adjusting is not a cure for disease, and I don’t promise a particular outcome. Some aspects of cranial mechanics and manual assessment remain areas of ongoing scientific discussion. There’s a difference between what I’ve observed clinically over 22+ years and what has been conclusively established by research.

Want to go deeper?

This is the cornerstone of our educational library on cranial adjusting.

Explore how I assess the cranium, the history behind these techniques, real patient cases, and what current research does and doesn’t show.

Interested in an evaluation? Learn more about Dr. Larsen’s practice at DrLarsen.com.