What is Osteopathy?
Osteopathy is a holistic healing process involving manual medicine. Osteopathy uses a unique hands-on approach to determine the cause of the problem by removing “blocks” which prevent your body from healing itself and resolving symptoms.
Osteopathy: A Whole-Body Approach
Osteopathy takes a holistic view of your health, focusing on the interconnectedness of the body’s systems. Our osteopaths use gentle, hands-on techniques to:
Improve circulation: By enhancing blood flow, osteopathy helps deliver nutrients to damaged nerves, promoting healing.
Relieve tension: We address areas of muscle tightness and joint stiffness, which can alleviate pressure on affected nerves
Support overall health: Osteopathy supports the body’s natural healing processes, contributing to overall well-being and recovery.
Osteopaths:
- determine the underlying factors that cause the problem
- assess and treat the physical and mental health of the patient
Types of Care
At PhysioActive, we use osteopathy to provide different kinds of care depending on an individual patient’s needs. Whether osteopathy is helping you maintain your health, treat pains and complaints, or provide symptomatic relief, PhysioActive professionals are here to help you.
Preventative Care: Many patients seek evaluation and treatment to maintain their current levels of good health. Anyone can benefit from osteopathic care, as it boosts or maximizes your general health. The earlier a pathological process can be identified and treated, the less likely it will arise into a serious condition.
Corrective Care: This is always the focus of every evaluation and treatment. Osteopathy focuses on the causes of the problems and complaints, not just the symptoms. This differs from some other manual approaches, which can be symptom-based. For example, a person suffering from headaches may have imbalances in the pelvis, spine, or viscera that are showing up symptomatically as a headache. Other approaches may look only at the head and neck, but the true cause may be elsewhere. Unless identified and corrected, the headaches will not be resolved.
How my Osteopath can help my pain?
If you’re looking for a treatment that addresses your body as a whole, considering how all your systems are interconnected, osteopathy might be the right place to start. Osteopathic practitioners focus on treating the root causes of your symptoms, using gentle, hands-on techniques to improve the function of your muscles, joints, nerves, and organs. This approach is ideal if you have multiple areas of concern or if you’re seeking a comprehensive, non-invasive therapy that promotes overall wellness.
FAQs for Those Considering Therapy from an Osteopathic Practitioner
1. What does an osteopathic practitioner do?
Osteopathic practitioners focus on the holistic treatment of the body, recognizing that all of your body’s systems are interconnected. They use gentle, hands-on techniques to assess and treat issues related to the muscles, bones, and joints, as well as the nervous, circulatory, and lymphatic systems. By improving the function of these systems, osteopathic practitioners help your body heal itself naturally, addressing both the symptoms and the root causes of your discomfort.
2. What conditions can osteopathic treatment help with?
Osteopathic treatment is versatile and can address a wide range of conditions. Common issues treated by osteopaths include back pain, neck pain, headaches, joint pain, sports injuries, and digestive problems. Osteopathic care can also be beneficial for chronic conditions like arthritis and fibromyalgia, as well as for improving overall health and wellness. Because osteopaths take a whole-body approach, they can often help with conditions that haven’t responded well to other forms of treatment.
3. What should I expect during my first osteopathic session?
Your first session with an osteopathic practitioner will involve a comprehensive assessment of your health. This includes taking a detailed medical history and discussing your current symptoms, lifestyle, and overall well-being. The practitioner will then perform a physical examination, which may involve observing your posture, movement, and palpating (gently touching) areas of concern. Based on this assessment, the practitioner will develop a personalized treatment plan tailored to your specific needs. Treatment may include manual therapy techniques, such as stretching, joint mobilization, and massage.
4. Is osteopathic treatment painful?
Osteopathic treatment is generally very gentle, and most clients find it relaxing and comfortable. The techniques used are designed to work with your body, not against it, so pain or discomfort is rare. In fact, many people feel immediate relief during or after treatment. However, because osteopathic treatment involves adjusting the body’s tissues, you may experience some mild soreness or fatigue afterward, similar to what you might feel after a workout. This is a normal part of the healing process and usually resolves quickly.
5. How many sessions will I need?
The number of sessions you’ll need depends on your specific condition and how your body responds to treatment. Some clients experience significant improvement after just a few sessions, while others with more complex or chronic issues may require ongoing care. During your initial consultation, your osteopathic practitioner will discuss your treatment plan and provide an estimate of how many sessions might be needed to achieve your goals. They will also regularly reassess your progress and adjust your plan as needed.
If you have more questions or are ready to explore how osteopathic care can benefit you, our team at PhysioActive is here to help. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and start your journey to better health and well-being.
Osteopathy for Adults
What Conditions can my osteopathic practitioner help with?
Osteopathy Can Treat
Osteopathy is a versatile and holistic approach to healthcare that can address a wide range of conditions, from common musculoskeletal issues to more obscure and complex problems. Here’s a list of 26 conditions that osteopathy can effectively treat:
Low Back Pain: A common complaint that osteopathy can help by relieving tension, improving alignment, and reducing inflammation.
Neck Pain: Osteopathic treatment can alleviate neck pain by addressing muscle imbalances, joint restrictions, and postural issues.
Shoulder Pain: Whether due to injury, strain, or poor posture, osteopathy can improve shoulder mobility and reduce pain.
Headaches and Migraines: Osteopathy can help by treating tension in the neck and shoulders, improving circulation, and balancing the nervous system.
Sciatica: Osteopathic techniques can relieve pressure on the sciatic nerve, reducing pain and improving function.
Joint Pain (Knees, Hips, Elbows): Osteopathy can address joint pain by improving mobility, reducing inflammation, and balancing the surrounding muscles
Arthritis: Osteopathic care can help manage arthritis symptoms by improving joint mobility, reducing pain, and enhancing overall function.
Sports Injuries: Osteopathy supports the healing of sports injuries by improving circulation, reducing inflammation, and restoring function
Postural Problems: Poor posture can lead to a variety of issues, and osteopathy can help correct postural imbalances and improve overall alignment.
Tendonitis: Osteopathy can relieve tendonitis by reducing inflammation and improving the function of the affected tendons.
Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI): Osteopathic treatment can help manage RSI by addressing the underlying causes of strain and improving overall function.
Digestive Issues: Osteopathy can support digestive health by improving the function of the nervous system and alleviating tension in the abdominal area.
Breathing Problems: Osteopathy can help with respiratory conditions by improving rib mobility, diaphragm function, and overall lung capacity.
Stress-Related Tension: Osteopathy can relieve stress-related tension by promoting relaxation, improving circulation, and balancing the nervous system.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Osteopathy can help manage chronic fatigue by improving circulation, enhancing nervous system function, and promoting overall well-being.
Fibromyalgia: Osteopathic treatment can alleviate the widespread pain and stiffness associated with fibromyalgia by improving muscle function and reducing tension.
Pregnancy-Related Pain: Osteopathy can relieve back pain, pelvic pain, and other discomforts associated with pregnancy by improving alignment and supporting the body’s natural changes.
Infant Colic: Gentle osteopathic techniques can help soothe colic in infants by improving digestion and reducing tension.
Menstrual Pain: Osteopathy can alleviate menstrual pain by improving pelvic alignment and supporting the function of the reproductive organs.
TMJ Disorders: Osteopathic care can help manage temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders by relieving tension in the jaw, neck, and surrounding muscles.
Whiplash: Osteopathy can aid recovery from whiplash by addressing the pain and stiffness in the neck and upper back.
Sinusitis: Osteopathic treatment can relieve sinus congestion by improving circulation and drainage in the facial area.
Vertigo and Balance Disorders: Osteopathy can help manage vertigo and balance disorders by improving nervous system function and addressing any underlying musculoskeletal issues.
Post-Surgical Recovery: Osteopathy can support recovery after surgery by improving circulation, reducing scar tissue, and enhancing overall healing.
Mental Health Issues (e.g., anxiety, depression): Osteopathy can support mental health by promoting relaxation, improving sleep, and balancing the nervous system.
Chronic Pain: Osteopathy can help manage chronic pain by addressing the underlying causes, improving mobility, and enhancing overall well-being.
Osteopathy’s holistic approach treats the whole person, not just the symptoms, making it an effective therapy for a wide range of conditions. If you’re experiencing any of these issues, osteopathic treatment might be the key to finding relief and improving your quality of life.
Osteopathy for babies and children
Newborn check
An osteopathic newborn check-up offers an opportunity to bring your new baby into the practice as soon as you feel able, for an examination, and gentle cranial treatment. By releasing any strains from pregnancy and birth early on, we can help to reduce the chances of your baby becoming unsettled and optimize development.
Sometimes, a single treatment will be enough to do this, and we will not recommend further treatment.
If it seems that your baby would benefit from more treatment, we will clearly explain our findings and some of the possible signs and symptoms you should look for as your newborn grows and develops. A newborn is so malleable it is a real please to release any strains realize the impact we are having on a new life. It is so very rewarding.
The sooner an osteopath is able to diagnose and treat your baby, the easier it is for the balance within the child to be restored.
A structured primitive reflex test can be completed by our physiotherapist at the parents’ request. This is a scientific way of picking up and subtleties of slowed development as early as possible. This allows early intervention and improved outcomes.
Babies
The baby’s head has the remarkable ability to absorb the stresses of normal labour. (This is the only way a babies head is able to exit a mother’s pelvis; Both the head and pelvis must be as malleable as possible to perfectly fit one another allowing successful vaginal birth to occur. However, many babies are born with or develop oddly shaped heads and bruising. This normally recedes in the first few days, as the baby cries, sucks and yawns, but sometimes the un-moulding process is incomplete. As a result, the baby may have to live with the discomfort within its head and body and neighbouring structures (in this case the brain). Forceps and suction can also cause cranial trauma and stiffness.
Crying, irritable baby
Symptoms:
- a baby who needs to be rocked to sleep.
- prefers being carried
- may suck more for comfort.
Reason: The baby may be uncomfortable due to retained molding and a subsequent feeling of pressure in the head. Needs to be constantly moved/rocked to settle. Sometimes this can be an upset tummy from irritation or the vagus nerve (the nerve to the digestive system) at the exit from the skull. On rare occasion, dural tension can compromise abdominal function.
Feeding difficulties
Symptoms:
- Baby takes a long time to feed,
- fidgety feeder,
- one feed may merge into the next,
- clicking noises whilst feeding.
- If breastfeeding, the mother may have sore nipples.
Reason: Feeding is difficult and tiring due to mechanical stresses through the head, face, and throat. Nerves to the tongue may be irritated as they exit the skull, which makes sucking difficult. The tension in the jaw or tongue or neck can create restrictions of movement needed for latching, sucking and breathing during breastfeeding.
Digestive problems
Symptoms:
- Regurgitation of milk.
- Prolonged crying due to trapped, painful wind, often worse in the evening.
- May curl up or go rigid, constantly moving arms and legs.
- Baby prefers to be upright and carried.
Reason: Nerves to the stomach and diaphragm is irritated as it exits the skull or neck, and this can affect digestion. The diaphragm massages the gut during breathing (see video) and also acts as a sphincter to prevent regurgitation. If the diaphragm is not functioning properly or if this is tight or its nerve affected, movement through the stomach and bowel may be impaired causing pain and irritability.
Inability to relax
Symptoms:
- Baby sleeps for short periods – catnaps.
- Maybe a very light sleeper.
Reason: The tension on the bony and membranous casing of the skull keeps the baby’s nervous system in a persistently alert state. As a child grows, the effects of reduced cranial mobility can lead to other problems. The child may begin to bite himself, toys or others or start head-banging. It can also affect the body’s reserves and depletes the immune system, leaving the child more open to infections.
Ears and sinuses
Symptoms:
- impaired hearing
- facial congestion
- subsequent delay in speech development,
- blocked runny nose and mouth breathers.
Reason: Retained molding may affect the movements of the bones, in particular, the temporal bone where the eustachian tube resides or around the face reducing drainage of the ear canal and sinuses. Moist, dark environments lead to bacterial growth and infections. This is why antibiotics work, but if the cranial movement is not resolved the bacteria grows back quickly and the child suffers from repeated ear infections.
Childhood aches and pains
Symptoms:
- Aches begin between the ages of 7 and 8.
- Growing pains.
- Vulnerability to sprains.
Reason: Retained moulding may cause a focal area of pressure in the skull, as the bony joints form at the age of 7 – 8 years. Postural tensions in other areas of the body leave it vulnerable to strain and fatigue.
Treatment is generally an enjoyable experience; however, reactions to treatment are variable. There is usually a feeling of relaxation and babies often fall asleep. On a rare occasion, babies are unsettled by treatment. This is a temporary situation and is usually caused when the release of retained molding is incomplete. It is not always possible for all the compression to release in one session, especially if the symptoms have been severe. On average 4 – 6 treatments are sufficient but can vary depending on the severity of the problem.What
