Osteopathy
What is osteopathy?
What is cranial osteopathy?
What is paediatric osteopathy?
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 boost the immune system and waste product drainage.
- Cranial osteopathy to release restrictions and tensions through the entire body.
- Visceral techniques to improve the circulation and drainage for the internal structures and organs of the abdomen and chest.
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 the very subtle rhythmical impulse throughout the body, known as the Involuntary Mechanism (IVM).
Disturbances to the IVM caused by stresses, injuries and tensions may lead to restrictions and imbalances throughout the whole body, including the head. Cranial osteopathy locates these problem areas and releases them using extremely gentle techniques.
These techniques are, by their very nature, eminently suited to the babies and children, as well as the elderly. However, cranial is suitable for all ages and activity levels, and can treat a wide range of conditions. It can be integrated into the treatment plan as appropriate for the individual.
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What is paediatric osteopathy?
Paediatric osteopathy is the branch of osteopathic treatment for young babies and children.
Do babies and children need osteopathic treatment?
Young children, especially babies, are often thought of as too young to have built up tension, stresses and injuries 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 is 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. Sometimes this results in extreme moulding (odd shape) of the baby’s head that is normally resolved within the first days of life in the world as the baby suckles, cries and yawns. Unfortunately resolution is not always complete resulting in unresolved tensions and pains throughout the musculoskeletal system (framework of the body), and subsequently irritation of nerves supplying different parts of the body e.g. the digestive system and the nervous system itself.
What do paediatric osteopaths treat?
The most commonly seen reasons for babies to be brought for osteopathic treatment are:
Infantile colic
Generally unsettled / fretful behaviour
Constant crying
Reflux / regurgitation
Plagiocephally (misshapen head)
Babies that favour one side of their bodies e.g. their head movement
Sleep difficulties
Constipation
Feeding problems
Post partum check up
The majority of these conditions are often as a result of the compressive trauma of the birth process.
What about treatment after babyhood?
Older children too may benefit from osteopathic assessment and treatment. Common reasons may include:
Glue ear
Musculoskeletal effects of asthma
Poor concentration levels
Sinusitis
· ‘Growing pains’ and injuries.
Is it safe?
Osteopathic paediatric treatment is extremely gentle, safe and non-invasive. Often other techniques will be incorporated into the treatment plan – such as the subtle Cranial Osteopathy – to provide an integrated approach. Osteopathy aims to support your baby or child’s body and encourage a position from which the body is able to help restore itself to health.
How many treatments will my child need?
Babies and children’s bodies are very dynamic and usually respond quickly to treatment with an average number of treatments being approximately 3-6 depending on the problem.
How soon should we seek treatment for our child?
It is recommended that, ideally, all babies are checked after birth as a matter of course. Certainly before the age of five is advised to deal with retained stress and strains, maximising optimum health for the future.
(1) Description by the British Osteopathic Association.
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