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an Osteopath
Osteopathy
What Is It?
How Does It Work?
What Happens During Treatment?
What Is It Used For?
Side Effects/Cautions
Recommended Books
What Is It?
Osteopathy is a method of diagnosis and treatment that focuses
on the functioning and proper alignment of the skeletal structure.
Osteopaths believe that misalignment of bones, muscles and nerves
can cause pain, discomfort, and a variety of ailments. They use
their hands to manipulate parts of the body to rebalance and realign.
Osteopathy was developed in the late 1800s by an American
doctor, Andrew Still, who became disillusioned with
the consistent failure of conventional medical treatments
after three of his children died of spinal meningitis.
Still became convinced that the proper alignment and
functioning of the body’s muscle and skeletal
systems was the basis of good health, and developed
a system of manipulative techniques which realign any
structural abnormalities and assist the body’s
self-healing abilities.
How Does It Work?
Osteopathic manipulative therapy (OMT) is believed to improve the
circulatory, immune and nervous systems by removing obstructions
that hinder the flow of blood, lymph and nerve impulses. This
allows the increased movement of nutrients, oxygen and the body’s
natural antibodies, which assist the body to heal itself.
Diet and lifestyle changes that may also be suggested
by osteopaths are designed to promote general wellbeing.
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What Happens During
Treatment?
During your initial visit, your osteopath will take a complete
medical history, including information about your diet and lifestyle.
A physical exam will often be performed, with the practitioner
examining your spine, joints, muscles, tendons, posture, movement,
balance and reflexes. Laboratory tests and x-rays will be arranged
if necessary.
Your osteopath will take a note of any abnormalities
and devise a treatment plan that may include osteopathic
manipulative therapy (OMT), prescription medication,
or changes to your diet or lifestyle. Osteopathic manipulation
therapy mostly involves gentle manipulation of the
soft tissues and joints, with occasional, painless
high velocity thrusts to mobilise stubborn joints.
Your first session with an osteopath will take 30-60
minutes, with subsequent visits lasting 20-30 minutes.
The number of visits required will depend on your condition,
and treatments can be weekly, bi-monthly or monthly.
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What Is It Used
For?
Osteopathy is used to treat a wide range of ailments, but is considered
particularly useful for musculoskeletal disorders such as back
and neck pain, muscle and joint pain, sports injuries, sciatica,
headaches, and postural problems. The techniques used by osteopaths
can also reduce physical stress, promote relaxation, improve blood
circulation and stimulate the nervous system.
Side Effects/Cautions
People with bone cancer, broken bones, joint infections, prolapsed
disk, spinal fusion or osteoporosis should avoid this treatment.
You may experience temporary soreness for a day or
two after therapy.
References
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an Osteopath
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Recommended
Books
Prices are in US Dollars
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Healing Through Cranial
Osteopathy
Tajinder Deoora
What is cranial osteopathy and how can it
help you? In this accessible and authoritative
book, Tajinder Deoora explains the physiological
basis of this increasingly popular therapy,
which addresses the relationship between the
bones and related structures in the head, face,
spine, and pelvis and how this affects our
well-being. Using case studies and diagrams,
the author describes what happens in a consultation,
and how the osteopath diagnoses and treats
a wide variety of conditions, including injuries,
pain, stress and emotional distress, in adults
and in children.
Learn
more...
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Muscle Energy Techniques (with CD-ROM)
Leon Chaitow
Describes the basis and practice of muscle
energy techniques (MET). This is now a widely
recognised approach to the treatment of musculoskeletal
dysfunction. It fuses methods used in physical
therapy, osteopathy and manual medicine. The
text provides a comprehensive and up-to-date
presentation of the techniques. The CD-ROM
includes video clips to demonstrate the application
of the techniques and so supports and supplements
the text.
Learn
more...
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Osteopathy: Research and Practice
A.T. Still
This influential book is the last work of
A.T. Still, the founder of osteopathy, whose
ideas have greatly influenced the practice
of all forms of manual medicine during this
century. The book was first published in 1910
but was long out of print. In this final summation
of the fundamentals of osteopathy, Dr. Still
expresses his vision of health and disease,
and what it means to be an osteopath. He then
looks at each region of the body and describes
in detail his approach to the diagnosis and
treatment of specific disorders.
A new introduction by Harold Goodman, D.O. provides historical
background and sets this book in the context of the 'Old
Doctor's' other writings. This new cloth edition of Osteopathy
Research and Practice should be required reading for all
practitioners of manual medicine.
Learn
more...
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Osteopathy Books
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