Some babies who have suffered from traumatic brain or head injuries may benefit from a type of medical treatment known as craniosacral therapy (CST). However, if performed incorrectly, craniosacral therapy can exacerbate old injuries – or cause new ones. If your baby was injured while undergoing CST, or now requires CST due to a previous injury, an experienced Miami birth injury lawyer like Prosper Shaked may be able to help. Prosper can fight to recover financial compensation for your family, so that your child can receive quality care. Continue reading to learn more about craniosacral therapy, how it may treat or cause injuries, why CST is controversial, and common birth injuries that can be caused by medical malpractice in Florida.
What is Craniosacral Therapy and What is it Used For?
First, let’s break down the terminology being used. The term “craniosacral” is derived from two words:
- Cranium – The cranium is the upper part of the skull, specifically the region which encases the brain. For example, the jaw or mandible is not considered part of the cranium.
- Sacrum – The sacrum is a large, somewhat triangular bone at the center of the pelvis. The sacrum, which is located at the very base of the spinal column (backbone), helps to provide support and stability for the upper body.
Craniosacral therapy, which was first introduced in the 1970s, involves gently manipulating these areas with light pressure from the hands and fingers. The thinking behind this method is that, by pinpointing specific areas, practitioners can “relieve pain and dysfunction and improve whole-body health and performance,” according to the Upledger Institute (named for the original developer of CST, John Upledger).
The Institute’s website describes the process as follows: “With a light touch, the CST practitioner uses his or her hands to evaluate the craniosacral system by gently feeling various locations of the body to test for the ease of motion and rhythm of the cerebrospinal fluid pulsing around the brain and spinal cord.” Then, the practitioner applies a series of “soft” touches to “release restrictions in any tissues influencing the craniosacral system.”
As an alternative therapy, CST is highly controversial within the medical community due to the lack of robust, peer-reviewed evidence supporting the claims of its practitioners. In 2012, the medical technology journal The Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE) published a study which stated, “The largest and best quality trial (involving children with cerebral palsy) found no benefit for motor function or a range of secondary outcomes.” The study authors concluded, “There was insufficient evidence to support any specific therapeutic effect of craniosacral therapy.”
Craniosacral therapy is used on both adults and infants. Though a controversial practice for the reasons discussed above, CST remains sought after by many parents whose children have suffered injuries, such as birth injuries caused by medical negligence. According to the Upledger Institute website, conditions that can be “addressed by” CST include “concussion and traumatic brain injury,” “infant and childhood disorders,” and “brain and spinal cord injuries.”
Infant Brain Injuries Caused by Medical Negligence in Florida
Infants can suffer serious injuries if doctors act negligently at any stage of the mother’s pregnancy. Many infant injuries occur during childbirth, often because excessive force is applied to the baby’s head or shoulders while assisting a difficult delivery. Injuries can also occur due to errors while performing C-sections, medication errors, diagnostic errors, the failure to halt or begin certain medical procedures, or other types of hospital mistakes.
Whether a baby’s injury is caused by physical force, a failure to monitor the baby’s status carefully, or the improper use of a medication, the outcomes are absolutely devastating for the entire family. Infant brain injuries can lead to developmental delays, respiratory problems, reduced mobility, problems with learning and memory, difficulties with speech and communication, and other serious consequences that may require constant lifetime care. Examples of common head and brain injuries that can be caused by medical malpractice include hemorrhages, severe bruising, and caput succedaneum, a condition in which causes abnormal swelling of the baby’s scalp.
Get Help Filing a Birth Injury Lawsuit from a Miami Medical Malpractice Lawyer
If your baby suffered a head injury or brain injury due to medical negligence, Miami personal injury lawyer Prosper Shaked is here to fight for your family. A fearless, dedicated, and experienced trial attorney, Prosper can help you sue the parties who contributed to your child’s injuries, such as negligent hospitals, clinics, OB-GYNs, surgeons, nurses, and other negligent healthcare professionals.
If you think your baby’s injuries were caused by a doctor’s carelessness, we are here to listen. Contact us online today to set up a free legal consultation, or call Prosper Shaked Accident Injury Attorneys PA at (305) 694-2676. We are here 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to help answer your questions about personal injury claims in Florida.