What is Osteopathy?
Osteopathy ...
- is an approach to healthcare that emphasizes the role of the musculoskeletal system in health and disease.
- is drug free and non-invasive.
- provides relief from pain and disability.
- is all about bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, nerves and how they relate to each other.
- is a specialised system of examination, treatment and management developed over the last 130 years.
Osteopaths ...
- are expert at finding the cause of the problem and treating it.
- are skilled in getting you better quickly and effectively.
- are hands on.
- have been through a thorough and detailed medical training program that includes much of what a doctor has to learn and uses many of the diagnostic procedures used in conventional medical assessment and diagnosis.
- have to be registered with the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC) and must complete 30 hrs of continuous professional development (CPD) annually.
The structure of our body and how it functions are the main focus of an Osteopath. For the vast majority of physical problems, osteopathy is a very effective form of treatment. Relief from pain and disability are the primary benefit to patients.
As an Osteopath I have a highly developed sense of touch that allows me to palpate (feel) the patient's "living anatomy" (ie. the quality of the tissues, and the alignment of the joints). I also use many tests, including orthopaedic tests to assess the problem.
Osteopathy is distinctive in the fact that Osteopaths believe that a patient’s history of injuries, accidents and illnesses are written into the body’s structure. The balanced functioning of our bodies is essential to good health. Any changes in how one part of our body works can affect the blood flow and nerve supply to other parts of our body - not only muscles and joints. It may also affect how the internal organs work.
Osteopaths are aware that as we go through life our bodies are susceptible to injuries and traumas. The body does its best to heal itself at the time and if unable to fully heal it compensates for the rest. Gradually these injuries accumulate until the body is unable to compensate any further. This is when problems start to show up and symptoms develop.
As an Osteopath I have a highly developed sense of touch that allows me to palpate (feel) the quality of the tissues and alignment of joints of the patient. I also use many tests, including orthopaedic tests to assess the problem.
I treat the body rather than the condition. So for a similar set of symptoms, two people will receive different treatment because the cause of the problem may be different. I provide treatment to improve the mechanics of the body so it can heal itself. I apply a precise amount of force( this can be very gentle) to increase movement of the joints and eliminate strain within the tissues. This helps the areas being treated to be better aligned and assists/aids/benefits the return of normal function.
Osteopaths are known for successfully treating / being good at treating back problems. Besides the back, Osteopaths can treat any part of the musculoskeletal system , as they have studied all the joints of the body. As osteopaths improve the mechanics/workings of the body this also affects other systems such as blood supply, nerve supply or internal organs.
Osteopathy takes a holistic approach to diagnosis and treatment. This is one of the most valuable aspects of Osteopathy for the patient. As part of this approach Osteopathic treatment may also involve recommending changes in posture, movement, habits and perhaps some preventive exercises to avoid recurrence of a particular problem.
My aims are 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.