It is essentially a natural therapy, which seeks to overcome the wide range of diseases, disabilities and pains which result from disturbances of the body's framework and moving parts.
The osteopath's job is to diagnose and treat faults that occur in this mechanical system due to injury, stress or any other cause, to ensure that it is functioning as efficiently as possible.
When our structure is in harmony and balance, just like a well tuned engine, it will function with the minimum of wear, stress and use of energy, leaving more vitality available for living!
Osteopathy is most commonly related to low back pain - Britain's largest single cause of lost
working days. But osteopathy and naturopathy can be used to treat a wide range of musculo-skeletal and systemic conditions.
These include
Neck pain
Shoulder tension and headaches
Ligamentous and muscular strains
Tennis elbow &
Knee, ankle and foot injuries
Osteoarthritis
Fatigue, post-viral and stress-related conditions
Postural problems
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Post-injury rehabilitation
Jaw, facial pain & Dental problems
Osteopathy is a manual therapy, which aims to improve health by enabling optimal mobility in the body.
Osteopathy uses many of the diagnostic procedures involved in conventional medical assessment and diagnosis. Its main strength lies in the unique way the patient is assessed holistically from a mechanical, functional and postural standpoint. Treatment is aimed at improving mobility and/or reducing inflammation by using gentle manual osteopathic techniques on joints, muscles and ligaments.
This is achieved using gentle spinal release techniques, joint mobilisations, soft tissue and neuromuscular therapy. Osteopathic treatment stimulates and strengthens the body's inherent powers of recovery and improves the patient's vitality. Patients generally find the treatment to be pleasant and relaxing although there may be a short-lived exacerbation of symptoms as the body strives to return to good health.
Patients are given positive advice, related to their lifestyle, about how they use their body. Age is no barrier to osteopathy since each patient is assessed individually and treatment is gentle.
Osteopaths treat a wide range of conditions, including changes to posture in pregnancy, babies with sleeplessness, repetitive strain injury, postural problems caused by driving or work strain, the pain of arthritis and sports injuries.
About 70% of patients present with back and/or neck pain, with or without radiating or radicular pain patterns. However osteopathy is effective for the whole range of joint and muscle dysfunctions including arthritic changes and trauma. Many presentations do also include a spinal aspect though.
For example, a 35 year old builder presented recently with right elbow and wrist pain. On questioning he had a history of neck pain and on occasion does a fair amount of joinery work. On examination the right lateral epicondyle of humerus was tender and swollen; he also had a fixed kyphotic dorsal region with exaggerated lordotic lumbar and cervical spine alongside a protracted shoulder girdle. If only the right wrist extensors and supinators were treated then although there may have been a little short-term relief, the problem would probably have soon returned. By treating the spine and shoulder girdle to improve mobility and normalise his posture the excessive work strain being put on his elbow was spread and absorbed through the rest of his body.
In general, patients require between two and six treatments for effective resolution of symptoms. In the case of chronic conditions such as arthritis, these treatments are usually spread over a number of months with the patient actively participating in learning exercises and management techniques to improve their long-term health.
