Osteopathy
What is osteopathy?
What is cranial osteopathy?
Tell me about osteopathy for babies
What is osteopathy?
Osteopathy is a statutorily regulated Primary Health Care Profession concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mechanical disorders of the body and the effects of these disorders on the function of the body and general health (1).
Osteopaths use their hands and highly developed sense of touch (palpation) to diagnose and treat problems within the framework of the body its internal structures.
Osteopaths recognise that problems in the structure of the body will impact on its function and vice versa, and will treat with a view to improving the overall dynamics and health of the body. Osteopathy aims to optimise the body’s mobility, function and overall health.
Individuals are precisely that...individual. Osteopaths assess you from a mechanical, functional and postural standpoint, as well as considering other aspects of your life that may be impacting on your current (or past) health such as your occupation, and personal and medical history. This ensures treatment is specifically tailored to you and not just treating symptoms without dealing with the cause.
A wide variety of techniques are used by Osteopaths to help you and facilitate the healing process. These include:
- Releasing and stretching muscles, including ‘massage’ type methods.
- Rhythmical mobilising of stiff or restricted joints.
- Gentle manipulation to restore normal joint function and range of movement (only used where appropriate, and then only with your consent. There are always alternative methods if that is what you prefer).
- Lymphatic techniques to stimulate drainage.
- Cranial osteopathy
- Visceral techniques
Additionally you may be given home care advice to complete the ‘whole person approach’, such as:
- Specific exercises and stretches to help speed your recovery.
- Nutritional guidance to ensure optimum ‘fuel’ for healing.
- Relaxation and stress reduction and management techniques.
- Work-place/work-station advice to reduce occupational injuries.
- Sports/general activity guidance to help minimise the risk of repeat injuries.
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What is cranial osteopathy?
Cranial osteopathy is a branch of osteopathy that uses highly refined palpation (touch) to detect strains and disturbance throughout the body (not just the head), and help to release them using extremely gentle techniques.
This treatment is, by its very nature, eminently suited to the babies and children, as well as the elderly. However, cranial is suitable for all age groups, and activity levels. It can be integrated into the treatment plan as appropriate for the individual, and many of our patients have reported good improvement in their symptoms.
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Tell me about osteopathy for babies
Young children, especially babies, are often thought of as too young to have built up tension and strain in their bodies, but that is simply not the case.
The journey of being born is a traumatic one that we all go through and can be a hugely stressful experience. A baby’s route through the birth canal is a tortuous one, with enormous contractile pressure throughout. However, a baby’s head is beautifully designed to allow for the many bones of the skull to move and overlap in order to reduce the overall diameter, enabling the baby to safely be delivered.
When osteopaths examine babies, areas of tension are often found in the spine or head, which are indications that the baby is uncomfortable. A baby cannot complain of backache or headache, and will typically express this by crying and being unsettled or irritable.
In a research study conducted by Clive Hayden into the effects of cranial osteopathic treatment on babies, some parents perceived the following changes in their children's behaviour: reduced colicky crying, improved sleep, less unsettled irritable behaviour and increased quiet happy spells.
(1) Description by the British Osteopathic Association.