Osteopathy is a system of diagnosis and treatment for a wide range of medical conditions. It works with the structure and function of the body, and is based on the principle that the well-being of an individual depends on the skeleton, muscles, ligaments and connective tissues functioning smoothly together.
To an osteopath, for your body to work well, its structure must also work well. So osteopaths work to restore your body to a state of balance, where possible without the use of drugs or surgery. Osteopaths use touch, physical manipulation, stretching and massage to increase the mobility of joints, to relieve muscle tension, to enhance the blood and nerve supply to tissues and to help your body’s own healing mechanisms. They may also provide advice on posture and exercise to aid recovery, promote health and prevent symptoms recurring.
Osteopathy and Cranio Osteopathy are suitable for:
– Men and Women of any age
– Pregnant Women
– Babies and children
During the initial consultation a thorough medical history is taken. The osteopath will ask about the onset of any current symptoms, their progression and the aggravating or alleviating factors that influence the pain or discomfort. This will be followed by a detailed osteopathic examination, when the adult patient will be asked to undress to their underwear in order to have his/hers posture and spine or any other joint assessed.
If required, the osteopath may use additional examination such as orthopaedic, neurological (for altered reflexes, muscle wasting, etc.) and circulatory ( blood pressure, pulse, etc.) to achieve a complete diagnosis. It can be beneficial for the patient to bring any results of X rays, MRI scan, blood tests and details of any medication that they are taking or are considered to be relevant for their initial consultation.
The diagnostic findings will be explained and the duration and frequency of treatments needed will be discussed. The use of manual osteopathic techniques, such as soft tissue massage, joint mobilisation, lymphatic drainage, visceral, cranial and/or obstetrical osteopathic techniques will be applied. Useful advice involving posture, home stretching/exercises, the use of localised cold or hot compresses and diet may be given to sustain and facilitate recovery.
When treating children and babies for the first time, a medical history is taken. Therefore the presence of parent(s) or the responsible adult who knows about the child’s history is important. Generally, children and babies are kept fully clothed during their session. For legal reasons, the parent/responsible adult will be expected to remain in the treatment room during the full length of the initial and follow up sessions.
Cranio osteopathy is a very gentle, non-invasive and subtle form of osteopathic treatment. It addresses the restrictions, tensions and imbalances found anywhere in the body, particularly in the skull, face and mouth.
The cranio osteopath uses a very light touch and gentle specific techniques to enhance the function of the cranio sacral system.
Visceral osteopathy is one of the modalities of the osteopathic philosophy which investigates and addresses visceral or organ dysfunction (i.e. lungs, kidneys, liver, etc.), that may cause pain or malfunction of the spine or joints or other parts of the body.
Visceral dysfunction can be associated with local symptoms such as lower back pain or urinary infections ( i.e. kidneys or bladder ), reflux or heartburn (i.e. oesophagus or stomach); or with distal discomfort such as pain on the left shoulder (i.e. spleen) or on the right shoulder (i.e. Liver). Osteopathic mobilisations of the viscera assist in the release of spinal and joint restrictions.
The first appointment will usually be longer (1hr) in order to take a patient’s medical history. The follow-up sessions will last 30 to 45 minutes, depending on the nature of the complaint.