CranioSacral Therapy with Dolphins

Russell A. Bourne, Jr., Ph.D., Chief of Staff
The Upledger Institute, Inc.
HealthPlex Clinical Services
Palm Beach Gardens, FL

Many among those who work with dolphins believe that they have shown an ability to sense areas of disability and physical trauma in humans. They will gently touch and scan people in areas of the body specific to their disability. How do the dolphins know? Investigators in the field of dolphin-assisted medical research conjecture that dolphins' natural sonar, called echolocation, emits sound waves that may have a connection with their sensitivity.

During the Summer of 1995, John E. Upledger, D.O., and his fiancée, Lisa Squier, D.C., went to the Dolphin Research Center in Grassy Key, FL for a recreational swim with dolphins. That swim heightened Dr. Upledger's interest in exploring further the therapeutic effects of dolphins and initiated a series of conversations between Dolphin Research Center and The Upledger Institute regarding dolphin-human interaction and dolphin-assisted therapy research.

The Dolphin Research Center (DRC) is located on Grassy Key, where salt water lagoons in the Gulf of Mexico, separated from the open water only by a low fence, are home to a family of dolphins cared for by the staff. The center sponsors educational programs and tours that offer opportunities to interact with these gentle, highly intelligent animals. DRC and its precursors have operated continuously at the same site since 1958. The progeny of dolphins who first came to live here are now producing the third generation. In 1984 the not-for-profit DRC was created and set as its goal the establishment of a unique educational and research facility. Since 1988, DRC's dolphins have been assisting a large and varied group of special children and adults to reach beyond their limitations through the Dolphin Child Program.

The Upledger Institute is an educational and clinical resource center that integrates the best of conventional healthcare with advanced complimentary techniques. Dedicated to the natural enhancement of health, it is recognized world wide for its continuing education programs, clinical research and therapeutic services. The Institute was founded in 1985 by John E. Upledger, D.O. renowned for his development of CranialSacral Therapy.sm The Upledger Institute HealthPlex Clinical Services was founded in 1985 to improve the quality of life for individuals with pain and dysfunction resulting from brain, spinal cord or other central nervous system conditions. It staffs physicians and therapists educated in a range of healthcare methods focused on moving people to their optimal performance in health. The Upledger Foundation was founded by Dr. Upledger in 1987 to support ongoing research and development of therapeutic techniques.

Following numerous conversations among UI clinicians and DRC staff and trainers in the Fall of 1995, and after two (2) days of in vivo trials, it was decided to conduct a three (3) month pilot study to investigate the influence of dolphins on the provision of CranialSacral Therapy.sm

CranioSacral Therapy with Dolphins is a joint therapeutic and investigative project sponsored by The Upledger Foundation and the Dolphin Research Center. The program is conducted on site at Dolphin Research Center in Marathon Shores, FL and involves clinical staff (Osteopathic and Chiropractic physicians, Physical Therapists and Massage Therapists) from The Upledger Institute HealthPlex Clinic. The provision of CranioSacral Therapysm will take place in the shallow water lagoons of Dolphin Research Center with the active involvement of bottlenose dolphins. This collaborative project is designed to assess the therapeutic and healing presence of dolphins while employing CranioSacral Therapysm and SomatoEmotional Releasesm with a diverse patient population.

CranioSacral Therapysm is a gentle, hands-on method of evaluating and enhancing the function of a physiological body system called the craniosacral system. This manual therapy enhances the body's natural healing processes and has been effective for a wide range of medical problems associated with pain and dysfunction.

The craniosacral system consists of the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord. It extends from the bones of the skull, face and mouthwhich make up the craniumdown to the sacrum, or tailbone. Since this system influences the development and function of the brain and spinal cord, an imbalance or dysfunction in the craniosacral system could cause sensory, motor or neurological disabilities. These problems may include chronic pain, eye difficulties, scoliosis, motor-coordination impairments, learning disabilities and other dysfunctions of the central nervous system. Patient populations with whom we have extensively employed CranioSacral Therapysm and SomatoEmotional Releasesm include Cerebral Palsy, Autism, Brain and Spinal Cord Injury, Cancer, Post Traumatic Stress and Stroke.

SomatoEmotional Releasesm is a hands-on technique used to rid the mind and body of residual effects of past injuries and negative experiences locked in body tissue. The therapist's approach during a SomatoEmotional Releasesm session is always respectful and non-invasive. The goal of SomatoEmotional Releasesm is to help the body clear itself of energy cysts that have been caused by physical and/or emotional traumas, and have required the use of ongoing compensatory mechanisms. Once these cysts are released and the compensatory activities are no longer required, the body's self-correcting abilities take over, allowing for more efficient use of body energy and neurological function.

At the onset of the program patients will receive an evaluation of the craniosacral system (Appendix A). CranioSacral Therapysm treatment sessions will be provided in the water and on dockside in the presence of dolphins. There will be three (3) therapists per patient providing multi-hands treatment and dolphins will be in close proximity as well as in direct physical contact with both the therapist and patient. Alterations within the craniosacral system will be noted during each patient's post program evaluation, (Appendix A), and subjective evaluations will be obtained from each patient following the two (2) day program (Appendix B). Therapists involved will provide subjective reports of alterations in perceived psychophysical energy of themselves and the patients.(Appendix C) Each patient will receive a minimum of six hours of therapy during the course of the two day program. All therapeutic services are eligible for healthcare insurance reimbursement and will be provided by licensed healthcare professionals.

This project is planned to run on Mondays and Tuesdays each week from September 9 - December 10, 1996. Patients will be assigned to either morning or afternoon sessions on each of the two (2) days (Appendix D). Due to the high therapist to patient ratio, initially the program will be restricted to only four (4) patients per week.

This program is unique in that dolphins will be involved directly in the therapy sessions and will be present throughout each patient's therapeutic program. Further, given the extensive application and utility of CranioSacral Therapysm to physical and psychophysical dysfunction, disease, and disability, the potential variety of program patients is extraordinarily diverse. This collaborative effort between The Upledger Foundation and the Dolphin Research Center will provide an exceptional opportunity to evaluate the impact of dolphins on the efficacy of an already well understood and effective therapeutic modality.

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