Osteopathic Treatments

What is Osteopathy?

Osteopathy is a complete system of medical care

Osteopathy is a safe, gentle and effective approach using hands-on techniques to diagnose and treat a wide range of health problems, aiming to relieve pain, discomfort and immobility. The osteopathic philosophy is to treat the person as a whole, not just the specific symptoms. By improving the function of the whole body, osteopathy helps to stimulate the body’s own self-healing / self-regulating processes, aiding a return to health.

Its emphasis is on the interrelationship of the body’s structure – such as muscles, bones, joints, nerves etc – and its function – such as breathing, circulation, digestion, metabolism etc. It is widely used throughout the world and recognised as one of the most highly effective complementary therapies with a vast and expanding base of scientifically validated research.

During a consultation the osteopath will take a thorough case history and carry out physical examinations including any necessary medical tests. These might include X-rays, scans, and blood tests. An osteopath may use orthopaedic, neurological and other system examinations to help assess and diagnose each patient, and if necessary, refer to other health care providers as required.

You may be required to undress so that the osteopath can observe your posture. They may ask you to perform some simple movements to help assess how your body is functioning and why you are experiencing your symptoms. Your past medical history, occupation, exercise regime, and any other factors which may be affecting your overall wellbeing

Osteopathy & Pregnancy

Aches and pains are common during pregnancy, as the body changes shape to accommodate the increasing size and weight of the uterus. This involves considerable changes to posture. If the mother has existing back problems, or strains in her body from past accidents or trauma, it may be more difficult for her to accommodate these changes, and she may suffer more discomfort as a result. The ligaments of the whole body soften during pregnancy due to the action of hormones. This allows the bones of the pelvis to separate slightly during the delivery to facilitate the passage of the baby’s head through the pelvis. Unfortunately this softening affects the whole body and makes it more vulnerable to strain during the pregnancy.

Infants & Children

Osteopathic treatment can be invaluable in optimising the health of babies and children, as well as addressing a wide range of conditions. The more gentle, non-manipulative techniques that osteopaths employ, commonly known as cranial osteopathy’, make osteopathy especially suitable for treating children, including newborn infants. Some of the conditions that occur in babies may persist, or become apparent in the young child.

It can be of benefit for your child to have an osteopathic assessment following a fall, especially where there has been a head injury or fall onto the spine/bottom. Children have an amazing ability to ‘bounce back’, however some trauma can be retained in the tissues and joints of the body, that may not be immediately apparent, but which can go on to cause problems later on in life. Your osteopath will be able to ascertain any restrictions that may have been caused, and treatment can alleviate and prevent further problems from occurring.

Osteopathy for babies

It is a common belief that babies and children should have no structural stresses or strains in their bodies, because they are ‘so young’. The reality is very different. Birth is one of the most stressful events of our lives. The baby is subjected to enormous forces, as the uterus pushes to expel the baby against the natural resistance of the birth canal. They baby has to turn and twist as it squeezes through the pelvis, on its short but highly stimulating and stressful journey.

The baby’s head has the remarkable ability to absorb these stresses in a normal delivery. In order to reduce the size of the head, the soft bones overlap, bend and warp as the baby descends. The baby’s chin is normally well tucked down towards its chest to reduce the presenting diameter of the head.

Cranial Osteopathy

The maintenance of good mechanical function is essential to good health. Problems in the framework of the body can disturb the circulatory system or nerves to any part of the body, and affect any aspect of health. Thus mechanical problems can lead not only to aches and pains in joints and muscles, but also to disturbances in the internal organs and the way they work. Osteopaths work to restore the musculoskeletal system of the body to a state of balance and harmony.

Health is not simply the absence of disease or pain. It is a state of balance and harmony between the body and mind of a person. In health, a person should be able to respond to events such as accidents, infections or emotional stress, deal with these events and restore itself to optimum health afterwards. The majority of people are not in full health, but are carrying an accumulation of the effects of different traumatic events that have happened to them during their life.

What does treatment involve?

An osteopath takes a detailed medical history from the patient followed by a careful examination. He/she will make a diagnosis of what is causing the symptoms, and try to put together the ‘story’ of why they have developed. Using very subtle and gentle techniques, the accumulated stresses and strains in the body are gradually released. The aim is to relieve the current symptoms and also improve the underlying health of the tissues as far as possible in order that they do not recur. This type of treatment is suitable for everyone from newborn babies to the very elderly, being extremely gentle.

What does cranial treatment feel like?

Patients my feel sensations of pressure or warmth, either under the osteopaths hands or elsewhere. Most patients feel that gradually the tension is being drawn out of their body and they become deeply relaxed.

The benefits of treatment

Osteopathic treatment is aimed not only at the relief of symptoms, but towards helping the body function better in all respects. Patients often report an improvement in general well being, energy levels, sleep patterns and also in areas of symptoms other than those that brought them to the osteopath in the first place.

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Osteopathy and Pregnancy

Osteopathy and Chidren

Osteopathy and babies

Cranial Osteopathy