Osteopathy
- What is Osteopathy?
- How does Osteopathy work?
- What can Osteopaths do?
- How do I know Osteopathy will help me?
- How do I choose the correct practitioner?
What is Osteopathy?
Osteopathic medicine, which incorporates Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT), is a fully recognized diagnostic and therapeutic system founded by Andrew Taylor Still MD in 1874.
On the 28th October 1998 the General Osteopathic Council issued the following description of osteopathy:
'Osteopathy is an established recognised system of diagnosis and treatment, which lays its main emphasis on the structural and functional integrity of the body. It is distinctive by the fact that it recognises that much of the pain and disability that we suffer stems from abnormalities in the function of the body structure as well as damage caused to it by disease'
What this means is that, Osteopathy is a system of therapy that emphasizes normal body mechanics and manipulation to correct faulty body structures. Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) is composed of a spectrum of manual techniques that today's osteopathic physicians use to alleviate pain, restore freedom of motion, and enhance the body's own healing power. Often these techniques are used in conjunction with more conventional forms of medical care, such as prescribing medication and performing surgery.
Osteopaths believe that every single segment in the spine should move individually in order to provide optimum function of the body and its structures. If any of these segments fail to work to their maximum capability, strain is placed on other areas of the spine due to overuse. This is seen most commonly in those individuals who slump in front of Visual Display Units (VDU's), the TV at home or simply anywhere they sit! These people present most commonly with neck pain. Your Osteopath will be able to explain to you the function of your spine and its strengths and weaknesses.
Osteopathy is a complementary medicine that not only takes in account the physical symptoms but the lifestyle, attitudes and current health of the patient. Therefore when visiting your osteopath you will not only receive advice on how to reduce physical symptoms such as immediate pain, but postural advice, exercise advice, lifestyle advice, hydrotherapy advice and nutritional advice. These factors are considered important as they help to optimise your external and internal environment, helping them to work effectively with each other and therefore help in reducing the discomfort with which you presented to the clinic.
How does Osteopathy work?
Osteopathy works on the basis of optimising your body's structure
and therefore its function. The primary aim is to reduce inflammation.
This is achieved by:
- Mobilising the joints improving joint circulation, nerve supply and lymphatic drainage
- Manipulation or joint release of restricted joints
- Muscular release of any tissues compacting the area promoting stagnation of toxins in the damaged area
- Hydrotherapy advice
- Exercise prescription
- Postural analysis and advice
After all of the above is achieved the body will begin to heal itself and improvements in symptoms will become increasingly noticeable.
What can Osteopaths do?
Osteopaths can help with most aches or pains in the body. If it hurts, consult your local Osteopath. It is also not very common knowledge that osteopaths can help even if there ISN'T PAIN. If you are feeling stiffness, tightness, or just a slight niggle, this is the best time to consult the osteopath. This is because the symptoms are less severe and more responsive to treatment. When there is significant damage in one or more of the body's structures we feel an ache or pain, sometimes agony. At this time it takes significantly longer to gain relief.
- Here is a list of just a few of the things osteopathy can help with:
- Low back pain
- Pregnancy induced Back Pain
- Middle back pain
- Neck pain
- Shoulder pain
- Elbow, wrist and hand pain
- Hip, buttock and thigh pain
- Foot, calf and knee pain
- Headaches and migraine
- Joint pain, like arthritis
- Postural problems
- Slipped discs
- Sports injuries, like tennis elbow, and repetitive strain injuries
- Trapped nerves / Sciatica
- Whiplash injuries
- Asthma and other breathing problems...
- And much more...
How do I know Osteopathy will help me?
If you have any of the below symptoms you may benefit from osteopathy:
- Stiffness / tightness
- An occasional ache / niggle
- An occasional ache / pain
- A constant ache / pain
- Sharp shooting pains
- Restricted joint mobility
- Pins and needles
- Numbness
- Weakness
- A throbbing sensation
- Shooting pains
- Joint swelling
- Joint locking, giving way, clicking / grating
- Headaches / migraines
If you are not sure whether osteopathy would benefit you, you can contact me via e-mail, contact me at The RJ Osteopathic Clinic for a quick informal chat or just pop into the clinic, I would be happy to give you a few moments of my time.
How do I choose the correct practitioner?
Your practitioner must be registered with the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC). The GOsC have a very strict code of ethics for its members to adhere to and only allow professionally trained practitioners on their register.
Web site by - Amit B. Ahya
