What I want patients to know before starting care.
Explore Patient Info
Safety is a fair and important question, and I want to answer it directly rather than with a blanket reassurance.
Assessment comes first
I don’t adjust every patient the same way, and I don’t adjust everyone who walks through the door. My history and examination are designed, in part, to identify situations where cranial adjusting isn’t appropriate, or where a technique needs to be modified or avoided.
Informed consent
Before any adjustment, I explain what I’m planning to do and why. You’re free to ask questions or decline any part of the exam or treatment at any time.
What the research says about reliability and evidence
Systematic reviews of cranial manual techniques — including cranial osteopathy and craniosacral therapy — have found limitations in diagnostic reliability and clinical evidence. That doesn’t mean these approaches are unsafe; it means the research base establishing their mechanisms and outcomes is still developing.
When I refer elsewhere: Cranial adjusting is not a substitute for appropriate medical evaluation, especially for serious, urgent, or potentially serious conditions — including new neurological symptoms, signs of infection, or suspected fracture. I refer patients to medical care when that’s the more appropriate path.
Who I’m more cautious with
Certain histories — recent significant trauma, certain surgical histories, or specific medical conditions — call for extra caution or a modified approach. This is part of why the history I take at the start of care matters so much.
Related reading
Learn who is a candidate for cranial adjusting, or see the FAQ.