Osteopathy

Product Description

Simply stated, osteopathy treatment can help with the faulty functioning of body structures such as joints, muscles and tendons. First, an osteopath determines where the fault is, then by means of proper manual manipulation releases the body’s own healing powers which then are able to restore the joints or tissue being treated to normal functioning.

In the traditional practice of osteopathy the skilled osteopath uses therapeutic touch alone to locate the malfunctioning body part, then gently manipulates that body part using the right amount of pressure in the right place at the right time in the right way. In addition to the treatment of joint or tissue abnormalities, osteopathic treatment may include advice about posture, work positions, inappropriate activity, nutrition and exercise, or discussion about emotional upsets.

Osteopathy specialises in the manipulation of the fascia. The fascia sheath, a thin fibrous sleeve, permeates, divides and subdivides all parts of the body surrounding muscles, arteries, veins and lymphatics, and supports a network of nerves around those body tissues.  Pain and other symptoms will arise in the organ or part of the body next to the affected fascia, whenever the fascia become trapped, bruised, overstretched or lacks nutrition. Osteopathic treatment of the fascia can often bring about a cure.

Cranial osteopathy has more recently become a specialisation within the practice of osteopathy. It is the name given to the osteopathic treatment of the skull bones. Problems such as headaches, high blood pressure, skin rashes, pain in the face, problems with the teeth, heart complaints, stomach ulcer and irritable bowel syndrome can have their origin in slight pressure on nerves originating in the skull. This kind of osteopathic treatment should be performed only by a highly skilled and specially trained osteopath.

While both chiropractic and osteopathy treatments include techniques for correcting abnormal spinal conditions through manipulating the joints, osteopathy goes a step further. In addition to treatment of the joints, it includes the adjacent muscles, fascia and ligaments making up each spinal vertebra. Osteopaths claim that their practice is more concerned with the pelvic rather than the neck region. Traditionally, the osteopath relies more on the sense of touch than x-ray evidence for diagnosing spinal derangement. Finally, osteopathic treatment is more rhythmical and gentler than chiropractic.

Benefits Of Osteopathy
The complaints most commonly helped by osteopathic treatment are lower back pain and sciatica. The treatment is to improve blood flow, relax muscles, free any joints that are not moving properly, thereby restoring normal nerve activity. Osteopathic treatment has been particularly effective for so-called “slipped discs,” arthritis in the lower back or hip, and pain down the leg, commonly known as sciatica.

Many conditions respond favourably to osteopathic treatment, such as neck, upper back pain, pain in the upper limbs (including shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand), migraine and headaches. Osteopathic treatment can help patients in the early stages of osteoarthritis of the hip, and can often restore movement or at least, in the case of the more advanced stages of osteoarthritis, reduce pain and swelling in arthritic patients awaiting surgery.

There are several medical conditions where osteopathic treatment should not be used, or should be used in limited circumstances, or in conjunction with other treatments, such as active infections, fractures, bone disease, cancer, gross structural deformities, and severe general medical conditions such as gross high blood pressure or heart attack, vascular disease like thrombosis, neurological conditions with nerve damage, spinal cord damage, and severe prolapsed  intervertebral disc.

To make an appointment for a osteopathic treatment please ring us on 0161 881 7171.