What is Osteopathy?
Manual Practice Osteopathy is a therapy of evaluation and analysis of the musculo-skeletal, visceral, circulatory, neurological, and cranial systems. The intention is that of restoring the normal function of the body by treating the causes of pain and imbalances that may be the result of injury, illness, stress, and the chronicity of daily living.
Over time, the body gradually loses its ability to efficiently self-regulate and to self-heal. Some of this loss may be due in part to the aging process, the prolonged influence of gravity on posture, traumas, illness, surgical scarring, childbirth, repetitive activity or strain, or the cumulative effects of mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual stress. In most cases the patient has had some combination of the above experiences. The results of these experiences may manifest themselves locally in the body, or more frequently the symptoms are experienced far from the site of the original site of occurrence. The practitioner is said to assess the whole body. Although treatment may be directed toward several specific areas, the effect of that treatment is often felt throughout the body as everything in the body is connected.
-(Canadian School of Osteopathy – Manual Practice Website, 2016)
Conditions that may benefit from Osteopathy:
Chronic pain
Neck/Back pain
Headaches
Shoulder conditions
Repetitive occupational strains
Head Trauma and Concussions
Sports injures and performance
Physical Trauma
Post surgery conditions
Muscular, joint stiffness
TMJ
Dizziness/vertigo
Upper respiratory conditions such as asthma and other respiratory ailments.
Symptoms associated with pregnancy i.e. back or pelvic pain
Menstrual symptoms
Delays with developmental milestones related to restrictions in the musculoskeletal system
Digestive disorders
Stress/Anxiety
Sleep disorders
Infant colic
Degenerative disease
Abdominal and pelvic pain
Help relieve pain and tension from dental work such as the application of braces
Anatomy, Anatomy,Anatomy!
Osteopathy looks at the individual in their entirety. No structure or system is separate from another and this is taken into account into each and every treatment. The goal of treatment is searching for the root origin of your issues, commonly not always where the pain is present or the symptoms are exacerbated. By considering all aspects of the person; physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual, it’s a therapy that leaves no stone unturned in pursuit of your wellness.
What do Osteopaths think about during a treatment ?
As Osteopathic practitioners, we base our treatment methods on four key principles.
1.Structure governs function- meaning if a structure such as a bone or organ is not in it’s physiological position it will not operate as efficiently. Symptoms may arise local to the site but could also show up in other seemingly non-related places.
2. The body is a functional unit- meaning all structures and systems work together and we do not look at isolated areas of the body. For example a client might present with low back pain, but because everything is connected the site of the pain may not be where the problem originated from (this is VERY common and why a full body assessment is required).
3. The artery is absolute- meaning all fluids in the body (blood,, lymph, cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) , venous drainage) need to be free from obstruction to nourish as well as remove waste for health to be possible.
4. The body has the ability to self-regulate and heal- meaning if all structures and systems in the body are in optimal alignment the body has the ability to use it’s innate ability heal itself without the need of such things as medicines or surgery.
What makes Osteopathy different from other therapies?
LOTS! One specific difference is that we view the body as a whole and take a multi-system approach to treatment. Osteopathy uses MANY different tools to create a patient specific treatment.