Osteopathy
What is Osteopathy?
What is Osteopathy?
Osteopathy is an established system of diagnosis and treatment that lays its main emphasis on the structural and functional integrity of the body. The osteopath believes that if the body is functioning to the best of its ability, then its own in-built healing mechanism can function effectively. This will promote long-term health and well-being at the same time as reducing any existing symptoms. Osteopathy encourages the body to function normally thus enhancing its natural self-healing and restorative properties.
Osteopaths recognize that dysfunction in body structure and tissues can affect the functioning of the nervous, circulatory, gastro-intestinal and other body systems. This can give rise to numerous symptoms such as pain, headaches, digestive and breathing problems, postural stress and emotional stress. Osteopaths can treat these and other symptoms affecting children, the elderly, sports men and women, office and manual workers, teachers and students.
Osteopaths consider each person as an individual. The patient as a whole is evaluated and after evaluating each case and considering suitability for treatment, osteopaths use gentle stretching and mobilizing techniques, exercises and health advice to alleviate symptoms, and improve health and quality of life. Osteopaths strive to eliminate the underlying causes of poor health and function, encouraging better long-term health for the patient. Rather than diagnosing and treating symptoms, the osteopath seeks the causes and treats them i.e. those factors that predispose and maintain the condition.
Osteopathy is now recognized by the government with the passing of the Osteopaths Act (1993). All osteopaths are required to register with the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC).
Visiting an Osteopath
Visiting an Osteopath
When seeing a patient for the first time, a comprehensive medical history will be taken and we will ask about your work and leisure activities. We will require you to undress to your underwear so that we can examine not only your posture, but also your active and passive movements. We may then carry out a series of neurological tests, e.g. reflexes, and we may have cause to listen to your chest, take blood pressure or examine your ears or eyes.
On examination we will identify any points of weakness or excessive strain throughout your body and diagnose any specific injury. Once the problem is identified treatment is safe and natural. Sometimes an audible "click" is heard when areas are being manipulated, but this really doesn't hurt. There may be a feeling of soreness after treatment for approximately 24 hours but patients are advised how to manage their condition and are always encouraged to telephone one of us if any concerns arise.
If a patient requires rest from work, then an "off work certificate" can be issued
About Back Pain
About Back Pain
Back problems account for 50% of the cases osteopaths see. Trouble with your back does not simply give pain in the back. It can and often is the cause of more remote symptoms like pain in the buttocks, groin or legs (sciatica). This is often brought about by pressure from a spinal disc on specific nerve roots. Osteopathic treatment and active rehabilitation can be much more effective than the old fashion approach of pain killers and bed rest.
Cranial Osteopathy
Cranial Osteopathy is a refined and subtle type of osteopathic treatment that uses very gentle manipulative pressure to encourage the release of stresses throughout the body, including the head.
Cranial osteopaths are trained to feel a very subtle, rhythmical
shape change that is present in all body tissues. This is called
involuntary motion.
The skull is made up of 26 bones which are intricately joined in such a way that during the rhythmical cycle of involuntary motion, the skull can actually change shape very slightly to accommodate the normal involuntary motion of the brain inside.
Impacts to the head can block or disrupt this movement. This can cause a very wide variety of problems both in the head and elsewhere in the body.
Using involuntary motion in the tissues, osteopaths can feel whether a person is in an optimum state of health, or whether there is something preventing healthy movement of the tissues from occurring.