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
Find
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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More
Osteopathy Books
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