Osteopathy

Osteopathy takes a systematic approach to healing using hands-on manual therapies to correct dysfunctions or imbalances in your body. It eases pain and discomfort, and speeds the healing of injuries and disease. An osteopathic manual practitioner may provide relief from headaches and migraines, jaw issues, digestive problems, post-traumatic pain (whiplash, car accident, post fracture), insomnia, chronic fatigue, stress, as well as menstrual and fertility issues.

What is Osteopathic Manual Therapy?

Osteopathy is a system of drug-free manual therapy methods for the treatment of a wide variety of musculo-skeletal conditions, as well as the alleviation of symptoms of many diseases. It was developed by Andrew Taylor Still in 1874, frontier physician and American Civil War field surgeon, who grew disillusioned with the failure of the conventional medicine of his day and its dependence on addictive and ineffective drugs.

Dr Still’s teachings were based on principles, rather than technique, in contrast to most other manual therapies.

His 3 most basic principles were:

1.       The body is a unit of function

2.       Structure and function are interrelated at all levels

3.       The body is self-healing and self-protecting

Osteopathy recognizes the mind/body/spirit connections that make us whole. Through gentle manipulation of the spine, joints and soft tissues, Osteopathy frees restrictions and brings into balance muscular, nervous and circulatory flow within the body. Osteopathy teaches that by freeing structural restrictions, the body will function as it should and can thereby heal itself. It is based on the scientific understanding of functional anatomy, neurophysiology and biomechanics.

Osteopathy takes a systematic approach to healing using hands-on manual therapies to correct dysfunctions or imbalances in your body. It eases pain and discomfort, and speeds the healing of injuries and disease. An osteopathic manual practitioner may provide relief from headaches and migraines, jaw issues, digestive problems, post-traumatic pain (whiplash, car accident, post fracture),  insomnia, chronic fatigue, stress, as well as menstrual and fertility issues.

Can Osteopathic Manual Therapy Help You?

Osteopathic manual therapy treatments are safe and effective for almost everyone.

Osteopathic manual therapy provides highly effective therapy for the regular aches and pains of everyday living. Chronic back pain, headaches, migraines, sciatica, golfers’ elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, TMJ dysfunction and repetitive strain injury all respond extremely well to Osteopathic treatment. In many cases Osteopathic treatment can help the patient regain function and even avoid surgery.

At a deeper level, Osteopathic Manual Therapy will assist the body in regulating fundamental activities such as circulation, breathing and digestion. Balancing nervous tone can help conditions such as asthma, constipation, edema, hypertension, cardiac arrhythmia, and gastric reflux.

Depending on the cause, Osteopathic Manual Therapy can be an effective treatment for infertility for women and men and can correct irregular or painful menstrual cycles.

Modern medical science has failed to find causes for many common chronic illnesses. Irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, scoliosis and multiple sclerosis are all treated symptomatically – usually by drugs. Osteopathic Manual Therapy treatment offers a drug-free alternative to treating the symptoms of all these disorders.

Osteopathic Manual Therapy is also a great help to performance. It speeds the healing of injuries, increases range of motion and lung capacity. Many professional athletes, actors, and musicians are vocal about the benefits of osteopathy.

What Is An Assessment & Treatment Like?  

Osteopathic Manual Therapy assessment and treatment are performed at the same time. Assessment is made with the patient standing still and moving actively, and with the patient’s body being put through motion tests by the practitioner. Asymmetries of structure and restrictions of movement are corrected where they are found. Adjustments are gentle, often rhythmic and considered soothing by most patients. Some may experience soreness or tingling afterward – this is not unusual and will stop within 24 to 48 hours.

Initial assessment/treatment take up to 45 minutes, with subsequent appointments being 30 minutes.

Please be sure to dress as you would for a massage – light, loose or stretchy clothes.

What Education Do Osteopathic Manual Therapists Have?

In Canada, the program to become a Master of Osteopathic Manual Science M(OMSc) requires 4 years of post-graduate study. In the US, the Doctor of Osteopathy is completed as a medical degree and graduates can practice as medical doctors in the US and Canada. A Canadian-trained Osteopathic Manual Practitioner is neither a Doctor nor an Osteopathic Physician.

The practice of Osteopathic Manual Therapy includes, but is not limited to: Manual Therapy; Craniosacral Therapy; Lymphatic Drainage; Myofascial Release; Muscle Energy Technique; Nutrition.