Osteopathy

Osteopathic treatment concentrates on the relationship between the structure of the body - the skeleton, muscles, ligaments and connective tissues - and the way the body moves and functions. Particular attention is paid to the spine, as it is the main channel for transmitting nerve signals from the brain to the organs and other parts of the body. To an osteopath, the body functions as a complete, working system. So any problems that affect the body structure will upset the balance of our general health. For this reason, an osteopath will not want to simply ease a specific problem, such as a pain in the neck. The osteopath will also want to know what is causing that pain. It could be anything from physical injury to mental anxiety.

OSTEOPATHY is a hands-on therapy. Through touch, massage, manipulation and stretching techniques, an osteopath can diagnose and treat people with physical and emotional problems. Since osteopaths are concerned with the structural integrity of the whole person, there are no formally recognized specialties. However, some practitioners develop their expertise in specific fields, such as the treatment of children, elderly, sports injuries or pregnancy-related problems. Similarly, some osteopaths choose to concentrate on certain methods, such as cranial technique, which focuses on the patient's breathing and nervous system, concentrating on diagnosing and correcting imbalances through gentle manipulation of the skull. Other practitioners specialize in visceral techniques, in which the organs are manipulated by massaging the abdomen or working on the nerve centers along the spine. This form of osteopathy can improve the position of an organ, break down adhesions, ease congested tissue and improve muscle function.

Osteopathy is described by the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC) as a system of manual preventative medicine that focuses primarily on the musculo-skeletal system. Osteopaths recognise that body systems such as the nervous, circulatory and gastro-intestinal systems can be affected by dysfunction in body structure and tissues.

Osteopathy is an established, recognised system of diagnosis and treatment. Treatment is tailored toward the individual patient and diagnosis is carried out through discussion, observation and by using a highly developed sense of touch. Gentle stretching and mobilising techniques as well as joint manipulation are used to help facilitate healing. Patients range from newborns to older adults.

Conditions treated may include babies with colic, toddlers with ear infections and teenagers and adults suffering from conditions ranging from back pain to circulatory problems.

Typical work activities include:

• Taking detailed case histories from new patients, including general health, specific symptoms and other details;
• Asking the patient to make a series of movements and assessing their general posture as well as checking for restrictions or tensions in joints or muscles;
• Undertaking physical examinations of patients by using a touch system (palpation) to identify any weak or strained areas of the body;
• Taking a patient's blood pressure and making other physical assessments as necessary;
• Planning and providing treatment by working with the hands using soft tissue techniques, gentle release techniques and other appropriate methods of treatment, such as cranial osteopathy; "cranio-sacral" osteopathy it's more just because this is the balance between the crane and the sacrum that we try to fix.
• Working with treatment equipment, including ultrasound machines, balance boards and percussion machines;
• Making lifestyle and dietary recommendations to patients, as required, regarding areas such as posture, eating, exercise and relaxation;
• Referring clients to other specialists, if required;
• Maintaining accurate and up-to-date patient records;
• Interpreting digital imagery generated by scanning techniques such as MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), ultrasound and X-rays.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES

Osteopaths aim to help to reduce the symptoms and improve the health and quality of life of the patient by:

• Identifying imbalances within the musculoskeletal system;
• Facilitating the body's ability to heal itself through stretching,
• Massage, deep massage and gentle manipulation;
• Offering added exercise and health advice.