What is Osteopathy?
Osteopathy is an established recognised system of diagnosis and treatment for musculo-skeletal disorders such as back and neck pain, joint pain, sciatica, sports injuries, repetitive stress injuries, and some types of headache. Osteopathy can also help you with your posture in pregnancy, babies with colic or sleeplessness, repetitive strain injury, and the pain of arthritis, amongst many other things. Your local registered osteopath will advise you as to whether they could help you with your particular problem.
A brief history of Osteopathy
Manipulative methods as part of medical treatment are known to date back to the earliest times. However, it is known that Osteopathy as it is known today was founded by Andrew Taylor Sill born in 1828 in Virginia. During the American civil war he served as a surgeon and following the war continued to study the nature of health and disease. He studied the human body in detail, its structure and the relationship between structure and how well the body performs. He announced the results of many years of study and stated three principles upon which the practice of osteopathy would be based.
- The body produces its own healing substances
- Health is dependent upon correct structure of the body
- Irregular structure is a cause of disease.
From these findings he developed the art of manipulation based on his knowledge of human anatomy, physiology and chemistry.
How does Osteopathy work?
Osteopathy practitioners work with their hands using a variety of techniques. These may include soft tissue techniques, rhythmic passive joint mobilisation or the high velocity thrust techniques designed to improve mobility and the range of movement of a joint. Gentle release techniques are widely used, particularly on young or elderly patients, enabling the body to return to normal function.
Osteopathy is patient centred which means that treatment is tailored to you as an individual. For some acute pain you may need 1 or 2 sessions. Chronic conditions may need ongoing maintenance. An average is 6 to 8 sessions.
Always check that your osteopath is registered, which ensures that they are a safe and competent practitioner, that they have adequate malpractice insurance and have agreed to abide by a Code of Practice. Look for the letters DO and /or BSc (Ost) after a therapist's name.
What is Osteopathy used for?
Musculo-skeletal disorders such as back and neck pain, joint pain, sciatica, sports injuries, repetitive stress injuries, and some types of headache.
Side effects
You should avoid osteopathy if you have bone cancer, a bone or joint infection, or the brittle bone disease osteoporosis. It may not be suitable if you've had spinal fusion or suffer from a prolapsed disk, but always check with your GP first. Osteopathic treatment has no potential side effects other than temporary soreness for a day or two after treatment.
A typical treatment
The osteopath will begin by asking you for your complete medical history, since a holistic approach is taken you will also be asked questions on your lifestyle. You'll then be asked to remove some of your clothing for a full physical examination. The osteopath will assess your posture, spine and balance, using their highly developed sense of touch, called palpation. This includes assessment of your back, legs and arms, checking your joints, muscle tendons and ligaments. The osteopath may need additional investigation such as x-ray or blood tests. This will allow a full diagnosis and suitable treatment plan to be developed especially for you.