Manual Osteopathy
History
In 1874 Dr. Andrew Taylor Still (1828-1917) of the American Midwest defined the science of Osteopathy. He was a physician and surgeon who sought alternatives to the traditional medical model after losing three of his children and several patients to viral meningitis. He discovered the body had an inherent ability to heal itself when proper relationships were restored within the body. It makes sense that when your body is balanced it requires less energy to function efficiently so there is more energy for living.
What is Osteopathy?
The purpose of Osteopathy is to treat the cause of the problem, not just the symptoms. All systems of the body communicate with each other and work together to allow optimal health. When there is disease or dysfunction in one system it will naturally affect all of the other systems. Over time you may develop symptoms in a system (i.e. Reflux/Digestive system) that seemingly has nothing to do with the original problem (i.e. Asthma/Respiratory system). For this reason an Osteopath will want a detailed health history that includes as many injuries and illnesses as you can remember.
Osteopathy is a natural science that uses special manual techniques to relieve tension on the tissues of the body. The goal is to restore the body to a point of homeostasis so that it is capable of regulating its own functions.
An Osteopath must be able to communicate with the tissues, so the therapist must be focused and receptive. In this way it is possible for the therapist to search for the causes of the dysfunctions and assist the body in dissolving the mechanical strains on its systems and attain global equilibrium.
Osteopathic techniques include but are not limited to: cranial osteopathy, joint (osteoarticular) impulses, myofascial release, visceral (internal organ) mobilization counter-strain and muscle energy.
Some conditions Osteopathy can treat are:
- Musculoskeletal disorders (sprains, strains, fractures and pain)
- Neurological disorders (cerebral palsy, stroke, traumatic brain injury, migraines, motor and speech coordination impairments)
- Pediatric conditions (torticollis, birth trauma, attention deficit disorder, learning disorders)
- Chronic Pain - TMJ disorder
- Psychological and Emotional disorders
- Digestive disorders (reflux, ulcers, bowel diseases, constipation and diarrhea)
- Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Inflammatory conditions (arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease)
- Hormonal imbalances - Respiratory diseases
- Genitourinary and Gynecological dysfunctions
- And much more……….
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