Osteopathy

Osteopathy is a manual treatment that is drug-free, non invasive and is used to strengthen the musculoskeletal framework and in improving overall health. It helps strengthen muscles, joints and the spine. It works effectively on the nervous, lymphatic and circulatory systems.

It is a holistic therapy and its unique nature and approach to health care makes it one of the popular therapies today. It not only treats the affected area but its manual techniques help bring about a balance to the entire body, improving overall health and the well being of a person.

Dr. Andrew Taylor Still in the United States of America introduced osteopathy in the late 1800s, his main aim being the correction of biomechanics in the body without using any medicines.

The fundamental principle of osteopathy is the functioning of all parts of the body together, hand in hand. If any part of the body has a problem then it becomes difficult for the body to tolerate pain, stiffness, inflammation and other acute health conditions. Osteopathy helps in reducing pain and stress and increasing mobility. It increases the blood flow in the joints in the affected areas that are stiff and helps the body to heal by itself.

Osteopathy includes hands-on techniques that are gentle - soft tissue stretching, manipulation and mobilization of the joints and deep tactile pressure. Osteopaths often function under the guidance of GPs. Patients who have arthritis are prescribed medicines by their GP. Then osteopaths advise them on how to safeguard themselves against injury.

The most common conditions that are treated by osteopaths are headaches, neck and back pain, shin splints, heel and foot pain and other strain injuries. Osteopaths also treat people suffering from asthma, digestive problems, carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, postural and whiplash problems. They deal with injuries that may be simple or complex in nature.

The osteopath will first enquire about your entire medical history before he begins treatment. Like any GP on a first visit, he will want to know your symptoms and your previous traumas or accidents if any. Any symptom, even if it is unconnected with the problem being looked at will be of interest to him.

The patient may be then instructed to take off some of his external clothing to show the mobility in the area. This helps the osteopath to observe any movement impairments in the affected areas. The osteopath may conduct certain orthopedic and neurological tests that will help him carry out his therapy in an effective manner and deal with the complaints of the patient more efficiently.

If you are consulting an osteopath for the first time then this may take you around 45 minutes to an hour as the he will take time to diagnose the problem and offer a suitable treatment program. The treatment may include a combination of techniques such as the stretching of soft tissues to increase the flow of blood in the affected area that will help the muscles and joints to become flexible, stimulation of joints to increase movement and increase muscle energy and decrease stiffness by stretching alternately working against resistance.

Osteopathy stresses on self-healing. Certain dietary changes may be advised by the osteopath along with exercise programs to be followed at home and maybe an alteration in lifestyles. The therapy programs may vary from individual to individual depending on their ailments. Maybe just 3 to 4 visits will be all that is required for simple problems.