Musculoskeletal conditions currently affect billions of people across the globe and over 1.71 billion individuals suffer from back pain alone, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Osteopathy may be a promising answer for tackling this global epidemic, and the fact that it is a gentle and effective form of manual therapy that focuses on treating the root cause of pain is even more promising. By mobilizing joints, stretching muscles, and promoting blood flow, osteopaths can alleviate pain and improve mobility. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll take you through everything you need to know about osteopathy.
History and Principles of Osteopathy
Osteopathy was originally created in the late 1800s by Missourian physician Andrew Taylor Still. It bases its practice on the belief that all organs and systems are closely linked, therefore, any alteration or distortion in one could negatively impact other body parts.
Osteopaths define the musculoskeletal system as something that’s important for retaining overall wellness and optimal health. Osteopaths ensure that the body’s structure is properly arranged, which helps the body reestablish its optimum functioning and promote healing.
How does Osteopathy Work?
Osteopathy looks at and treats the body as an entire system by using a range of approaches. Osteopaths treat the connective tissues, joints, and muscles using their own hands in order to improve their function, alleviate irritation, and promote flexibility. Osteopaths can assist in recovering balance and expediting healing by using moderate pressure, exercises, and mobilisation techniques.
According to a study that was published in the International Journal of Osteopathic Medicine, patients with persistent low back pain in randomised control trials responded well to osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) in terms of pain reduction and improved function.
Conditions Treated by Osteopathy
Osteopathy can be beneficial for various painful conditions, arthritic complaints, and injuries. It is most often used to treat musculoskeletal tension, which includes stiff joints, neck pain, and back pain. Sports injuries, sciatica, and arthritis are among the health problems that osteopaths can assist in healing. In addition, many individuals seek osteopathy for respiratory ailments, headaches, migraines, and digestive disorders because the whole body and organ systems are interconnected with muscles and nerves.
Osteopathy can offer efficient and all-natural pain treatment, regardless of whether you’re suffering from a chronic illness or acute pain from an injury that happened recently. From young children to the elderly, osteopathy is appropriate because of its non-invasive and gentle approach.
Top 10 Benefits of Osteopathy
Selecting osteopathy as a therapy option has many advantages:
- Non-invasive – Osteopathy is a natural, drug-free method of treating pain and promoting healing, as opposed to pharmaceuticals or invasive procedures. Osteopathy can enhance general well-being and offer long-term pain or discomfort alleviation by treating the underlying source of the problem.
- Pain management –
- Put prevention first – Osteopaths strive to avoid future problems in addition to treating current ones. Osteopaths can assist you in preserving your best health and averting subsequent illnesses or injuries by locating and correcting physical imbalances or limits.
- Holistic approach: Osteopathy adopts a holistic approach to healing by considering the body’s interconnection. Instead of concentrating only on the area of pain, osteopaths can treat the body as a whole.
- Enhances mobility and flexibility: Manual manipulation techniques are used in osteopathic treatment to release tense muscles and promote musculoskeletal system flexibility. Conditions including back discomfort, neck pain, and stiff joints tend to benefit substantially from this greater range of motion and flexibility.
- Reduction of stress: Osteopathy can alleviate stress predominantly by relaxing tense muscles and decreasing cortisol levels in the body. As a consequence, it can help alleviate tension through deeper relaxation.
- Blood flow and circulation: Osteopathy may enhance general tissue health by accelerating the clearance of metabolic waste products, enhancing both nutritional and oxygen delivery to tissues, and promoting circulation. According to research, osteopathic manipulative therapy may boost peripheral blood flow and blood circulation, which is important for the rebuilding and healing of tissues.
- Complementary to other therapies – Studies reveal that the combined use of acupuncture and osteopathy can improve both therapeutic outcomes and patient outcomes. Osteopathic treatment, along with acupuncture, can offer an integrated and holistic approach to managing a broad spectrum of disorders, such as back pain, arthritis, and digestive problems, through healing the body’s energetic and structural systems.
- Personalised approach: Osteopaths use a thorough evaluation procedure to detect problematic body and muscle areas to create individualised treatment plans that target the fundamental root causes of their patients conditions.
- Long-term effects: Research has shown that osteopathy can result in long-lasting improvements in quality of life as well as reductions in pain and impairment.
What to Expect During an Osteopathy Session
An extensive and comprehensive examination of your condition will be conducted during your osteopathic session. The osteopath will listen to your main concerns and review your medical history, current lifestyle habits, and any prior medical procedures or therapies you have tried. With all of this information, the osteopathic practitioner will develop an individualised course of action that takes into consideration your current symptoms and what is needed to heal.
When it comes to the physical treatment, hands-on techniques, including soft manipulation, stretches, and mobilisations of the tissues, joints, and muscles, are usually used. The osteopath will apply precise pressure to specific points of the body to mobilise tension, alleviate pain, and encourage healing where there may be a constriction, or imbalance.
It’s vital to keep in mind that osteopathy tends to be a mild, non-invasive form of treatment, though you might feel a little sore or uncomfortable during or after the treatment. Make sure to let your osteopath know that you have issues or feel unpleasant at any stage during the session. They will be able to adapt the technique as necessary.
Osteopathy Techniques and Treatments
Osteopathy is a broad alternative medicine discipline that comprises several distinct methods and procedures, all designed to enable the body to heal and regain equilibrium. Among the methods that are frequently employed are:
- Soft tissue manipulation: Gentle stretching and manipulation of the body’s soft tissues, including muscles, tendons, and ligaments, is referred to as soft tissue manipulation. Soft tissue manipulation has been shown to increase function overall, diminish pain, and increase mobility.
- Joint mobilisation: To boost range of motion, alleviate stiffness, and soothe pain, osteopaths mobilise and modify the body’s joints using their hands. Joint injuries and conditions like arthritis benefited greatly from joint mobilisation
- Muscle energy techniques: The patient engages actively in these therapies by contracting or moving in specific movements while the osteopathic practitioner applies minimal opposition.
How does cranial osteopathy differ from osteopathy?
Cranial osteopathy is a type of osteopathy and gentle technique that focuses on the subtle movements and rhythms of the skull and spinal column. By applying gentle pressure, osteopaths can help restore balance and alleviate pain throughout the body.
Experienced Osteopath in Peterborough
Overall, osteopathy offers a holistic and non-invasive approach to pain relief and overall well-being. By addressing the root cause of your symptoms and promoting the body’s natural healing abilities, osteopathy can provide long-term relief and support. Whether you’re suffering from musculoskeletal pain, digestive issues, or respiratory conditions, osteopathy can move the needle for treating an acute or chronic condition.
At the Complementary Health Clinic, our highly trained osteopath is one of the best osteopaths in Peterborough and is dedicated to providing personalized and compassionate care. With their expert knowledge and skills, they will work with you to develop a customized treatment plan that addresses your unique needs. To inquire whether osteopathy is right for you or book your appointment today, you can call 01733 774 440.
Frequently Asked Questions about Osteopathy
- Is osteopathy safe?
In general, osteopathic treatment is safe when administered by a trained professional and a certified osteopath. To guarantee they have the knowledge and abilities to deliver safe and efficient care, osteopaths go through an osteopath degree and training programme.
- How many sessions of osteopathy will I require?
The kind and severity of your ailment will determine how many sessions are needed. In certain situations, you might feel a lot better after just a few sessions, but in others, you might need longer term treatment to reverse the condition.
- Is osteopathy able to treat long-term illnesses?
Yes, chronic illnesses can benefit from osteopathic treatment. Osteopathy helps treat physical constraints or imbalances to help manage symptoms and enhance general health.