Health and Osteopathic Medicine
Osteopathic medicine is a form of Alternative health physical medicine that helps to restore the balance of the body’s muscular system, as well as relieving pain in the spine and joints. Osteopathy combines joint manipulation, physical therapy and re-alignment of posture to treat health conditions like chronic pain, arthritis, spinal and joint difficulties, and digestive disorders.
Osteopathy considers and treats the patient as a whole rather than focussing on a particular ailment or illness. It was developed by Andrew Taylor in 1874 as an alternative to the medical practices of the time. It is the oldest form of alternative therapy to originate in the United States.
In treating patients, osteopaths use various forms of manipulation to allow the body’s self-healing mechanisms to operate. Although it is very effective in treating pain and chronic illness, it typically looks for deeper causes underlying serious health conditions, like heart disease.
How does it work?Osteopaths say that when the movement of the mechanical structure (the muscles and skeleton) of the body is restricted, it can cause other health problems. As an example, a sports injury can cause restriction of movement in the upper spinal or rib area and also involve the muscles in that region.
Osteopathic treatment can bring more suppleness and mobility to the area, which will benefit and help to prevent further problems. Any mechanical restriction in the physical body can influence organs and entire systems.
Restriction of any area of the spine can directly affect the organs and systems related to that area. This is why osteopathy has allowed the patient to achieve mobility - enough to move in the direction of a cure.
The Benefits of osteopathyThere are not many health conditions that can’t be helped by osteopathic care. It can help with many problems that have previously not responded to medicine and surgery.
Osteopathic medicine has given aid to patients with spinal and joint problems, arthritis, allergies, heart disease, breathing difficulties, chronic fatigue syndrome, hiatus hernia, high blood pressure, headaches, sciatica, and various other nerve inflammations.
Among all alternative therapies, osteopathy along with chiropractic has been scientifically verified to be the most effective for treating acute low back pain without complications.
It is also good for treating underlying health conditions. Quite a lot of patients who have internal organ diseases complain of muscular and joint pain.
For example, an osteopath treating a patient with pain in his right shoulder would, because of the bodily relationships between these, look for reflex pain patterns in the region, and perhaps discover a tender and swollen gallbladder.
The patient would then be treated for both the pain and the underlying gallbladder disease and the patient would make a complete recovery and fully regain their health.
The osteopathic examinationAn osteopath would look at any symptoms such as:
Posture and gait - how a person holds their body while standing and sitting, and during activities such as walking. Motion - testing all moving parts for restrictions. For example, a patient may be asked to complete various body movements such as bending, side-bending, extension, or rotation for both specific and general areas of the body. Symmetry - an osteopath would notice a one-sided use of any part of the body and any subsequent stress. Osteopaths also look for increased or decreased curve to the normal spinal pattern. The soft tissues To use palpation to look for skin changes, hardening of muscles, temperature changes, tenderness, reflex activity and excessive fluid retention.
In conjunction with this evaluation, x-rays, blood tests and MRI scans are used if there is a suspicion of other illnesses and diseases.
Types of therapy usedDifferent manipulative approaches by the osteopath including:
Gentle mobilization Articulation When motion is severely limited, a quick thrust (similar to chiropractic) may be used. Release methods Placing the patient in a specific position to allow the body to relax and release muscular spasms that may have been caused by strain or injury. Muscle energy technique Gently tensing and relaxing specific muscles to produce relaxation. Other soft tissue techniques Techniques to relax and release restrictions to the soft tissues of the body. Cranial manipulation Very gentle and subtle cranial techniques used to treat conditions such as headaches, stroke, and spinal cord injury. Cranial osteopathy can be or particular benefit to young children who suffer from hyperactivity, mood disorders, dizziness or dyslexia.
Re-education is an important final step or the treatment. Patients who learn how to keep their bodies working in a relaxed and healthy state have less anxiety and tension and are able to cope with stress better.
Relaxation techniques may be used to reduce excessive tension often in people with joint and back problems. These methods, along with exercises and stretches especially designed for the patient, helps to restore balance, reduce stress on the joints and making any treatment more effective.
Improved breathing methods may be taught when necessary to reduce the stress of certain muscles in the back and neck when a patient’s breathing patterns are defective. This allows for increased lung capacity whilst releasing contracted muscles in the area that may have been over-working.
Correcting the posture of a patient is important as well, as it reduces damage and tension affecting the joints and soft tissues, as well as decreasing fatigue. A complete osteopathic treatment will keep the body working smoothly and easily, which can only be good for long term health.
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