What Happens During a Cranial Adjustment?

If you’re considering cranial adjusting, it helps to know what an appointment actually looks like — not just the adjustment itself, but everything that leads up to it.

1. History

Before I touch anything, I want to understand you. That includes past injuries — head injuries, concussions, falls, sports injuries, dental history — even ones that seem unrelated or happened decades ago.

2. Examination

I look at head position, facial symmetry, eye level, movement and range of motion. None of these findings are diagnoses on their own; they’re pieces of a larger picture.

3. Muscle testing

I’ll test a muscle, apply a contact to a specific area of the cranium, and test the same muscle again. A change in that response is one piece of information I use to decide where to focus — not a stand-alone diagnosis.

4. The adjustment

Based on what I’ve found, I’ll use the technique I believe is appropriate — CFR, percussion, or a combination. I’ll explain what I’m about to do beforehand.

5. Reassessment

Afterward, I go back to the same tests: muscle response, range of motion, and how you’re feeling. I want to know what changed, rather than assume the adjustment worked.