“Any variation from the health has a cause, and the cause has a location. It is the business of the osteopath to locate and remove it (the cause), doing away with disease and getting health instead.
- A.T. Still MD, DO, Osteopathy Research and Practice
What is Osteopathy?
Osteopathy was founded in 1874 by Dr. Andrew Still, M.D. Osteopathy is a natural therapy based on removing the underlying causes of pain and illness, rather than managing symptoms. This allows the body’s inherent self-healing ability to resume. Symptoms, whether involving pain, restriction of movement, digestive dysfunction, fatigue, headaches or migraines, stress, etc. often represent the end result and can be far removed from the mitigating factors. There may be several factors that contributed to the resultant distress.
The Osteopathic practitioner examines the complex interconnectedness of the whole body’s main systems, as a single unit. A highly trained sense of touch, biomechanical analysis, and other tests are used to identify and correct structural imbalance and other restrictions within the body. When all the components are in balance, the body’s self-healing ability is restored, and continues to function without requiring further intervention.
Osteopathic treatment techniques include:
1. Myofascial, Connective Tissue & Neuromuscular Therapies – returns muscles and fascia to their original length, thus removing strain from joints and organs;
2. Cranial Osteopathy – attends to the underlying biorhythm and motion of the dural membranes and fluid which surround and invest the brain and spinal cord, and which influence cellular exchange throughout the whole body;
3. Visceral Mobilization - relieves stressful forces acting on internal organs or their suspensory ligaments, which improves mobility & blood flow, and helps the organ function more effectively;
4. Osteoarticular corrections - gentle realignment of bony joints to encourage efficient weight bearing and movement, and normalize associated function;
5. Muscle Energy Techniques - relaxes tight muscles and reeducates the nervous system, which controls muscle activity and greatly influences circulation.
Who can benefit from Osteopathy?
· People of all ages suffering with digestive disorders, or chronic illness.
· Anyone with repetitive strain injuries, or post-accident.
· Newborns, infants, toddlers, children of all ages.
What conditions are commonly treated with Osteopathy?
- Pain:
- Neck pain
- Back pain
- Menstrual pain
- Sciatica
- Headaches and Migraines
- Jaw pain (TMJ disorder)
- Bursitis and Tendinitis
- Joint Pain and Arthritis
- Motor Vehicle Accident related pain
- Sports Injury related pain (including concussions)
- Over-Use / Repetitive Strain Injury related pain
- Fibromyalgia
- Pregnancy Issues:
- Back pain and Sciatica
- Digestive upset
- Edema (Swelling)
- Children’s Issues:
- Colic
- Spitting up
- Sucking difficulty
- Delayed development
- Birth trauma
- Otitis media (Ear infections)
- Systemic Problems:
- Neurological syndromes
- Digestive disorders
- Genitourinary problems
- Chronic infectious disease
- Circulatory problems
- Respiratory Illness:
- Asthma
- Bronchitis
- Pleurisy
- Allergies
- Ear, Nose and Throat Problems:
- Chronic ear infections
- Recurrent sore throats
- Frequent colds
- Glaucoma
- Sinusitis (Sinus infection / inflammation)
- Tinnitus (Noise or ringing in the ear)
Your First Visit
On your first visit please wear loose, comfortable clothes.
A complete health history, your current health conditions, concerns and treatments are discussed.
A full overall physical and functional examination is conducted.
The findings of the assessment and a treatment plan is discussed with you. Referrals to other health care practitioners is recommended when appropriate.
Treatment may involve an extensive range of hands-on techniques; soft tissue stretching, deep tactile pressure, mobilization and/or gentle adjustments of the soft issues and joints.
The frequency of treatments recommended is based on assessment findings. Adequate time between visits is required to allow your body to integrate the changes that occur from one treatment to the next.
You may be asked to sit or recline on the examination table; loose, comfortable clothing is recommended.
Osteopathy strengthens vitality rather than manage disease symptoms.
On the web...
www.novascotiaosteopaths.ca
www.osteopathiecanada.ca/
www.osteopathyontairio.com/