What is Osteopathy?
Osteopathic treatments are based on the principle that the body can be assisted to heal itself naturally. The body can usually heal injuries itself. However, in some cases, the injury is greater than the body’s ability to adapt or heal.
This inability may be caused by a number of reasons, and the injuries, sometimes even minor ones, may create problems that seem unrelated. In such cases, treatment is necessary to restore the balance within your body and assist your body to use its natural ability to heal itself.
Osteopathy assists your body, by applying very precise techniques to remove tensions created by old (possibly forgotten) or new injuries. By removing these tensions, the body regains its natural ability to function on its own and the tissue, by getting enough oxygen and nutrients, speeds the process of healing itself.
Basic principles of Osteopathy are:
- That all body parts are interconnected.
- That the function of one part of the body is dependent upon the normal functioning of the other parts.
- Good circulation is essential in order for the body to get proper nutrients, and for the removal of waste products.
- Movement may become restricted due to the distortion of tissue or the pull from some other tight structure that did not heal properly after an old injury.
- Lack of mobility may lead to the development of stasis, congestion of bodily fluids, pain and other problems.
What Treatment Techniques May be Employed:
- Osteoarticular corrections: gentle realignment of the bones.
- Strain counter-strain: a method of relaxing and re-positioning joints.
- Muscle energy: creation of muscle relaxation through muscle contraction and relaxation. For a video example, click here.
- Visceral mobilization: gentle mobilization of the organs of the body
- Myofascial release: normalization of myofascial tension to restore normalcy in the muscles and surrounding tissues. The myofascia (fascia) is a thin layer of connective tissue that covers all muscles and bones.
- Cranio-Sacral Osteopathic Therapy (or Cranial Therapy): a gentle movement of the bones of the skull. It has been found that distortion or warping of the cranial bones can result in the misalignment of the spinal bones. This misalignment of the spine can originate from the cranial area, to which the spine is attached.