Osteopathic Treatment Methods
Osteopathic Manual Practitioners use a soft, hands-on approach to identify and treat the body’s inner rhythms and structures. This technique is called osteopathic palpation, and manual practitioners spend years developing their sense of touch in order to master this technique.
Osteopathy differs from other forms of therapy because of osteopathic palpation, and manual practitioners use it in four major treatment techniques:
1. Soft Tissue Manipulation
Soft tissue manipulation tests the tissues of the body and helps the body’s fluids flow smoothly. This process helps to reduce harmful fluid retention while at the same time strengthening the body’s immune system.
Fascia are the connective fibres of tissue found in all parts of the body. Manual practitioners evaluate the fascia to find areas where restriction is evident and then manipulate this tissue in an effort to achieve balance.
Throughout the treatment, osteopaths continue to check on the state of the body’s tissues, and if one technique is not proving useful, they will switch their approach.
Most importantly, osteopathic manual practitioners try to restore health without over-treating.
2. Articular Technique
The articular technique is especially useful for reducing pain, increasing joint mobility, and minimizing both neurological joint irritations and muscle spasms near joints.
After preparing the soft tissues around the treatment area and moving the patient into optimal position, the articular technique involves gently shifting two joint surfaces, sometime resulting in a clicking sound. Many patients find this technique much less forceful than standard joint manipulations.
3. Cranial Osteopathy
After honing their cranial osteopathy skills for years, Osteopathic Manual Practitioners use this gentle yet extremely skillful technique to assess the mobility of the skull, sacrum, spine, and other parts of the body.
The ultimate goal of cranial osteopathy is to positively adjust the body’s physiology by assisting body fluid circulation. Practitioners do so by paying close attention to the body’s inherent biorhythm which can be felt by their trained hands and then making the appropriate adjustments.
4. Visceral Manipulation
Visceral manipulation is used to treat numerous organs of the body including the heart, liver, spleen, stomach, bladder and intestines among others.
Through visceral manipulation, Osteopathic Manual Practitioners manually move these body parts and the fascia that surrounds them in an effort to restore full movement. The process is done gently enough that most patients only feel slight pressure, yet is strong enough to greatly improve the performance of the organ.
These osteopathic techniques are all done in a coordinated manner to slowly adjust the patient’s body so it can heal itself.
5. Osteopathy For Infants
Infants benefit from professional osteopathic care just as much as adults do. The birthing process, sleeping positions and innumerable other factors can alter a baby's natural alignment, crowding nerves and causing symptoms such as digestive disorders, excessive crying and trouble feeding. Luckily, infancy is the most adaptable time in your child's life. Babies respond very well to osteopathic care and require fewer, and shorter, treatments than adults. Give us a call, send an email, or book an appointment to find out more about professional osteopathic care and your infant.