About osteopathy
What is osteopathy?
Osteopathy is a system to diagnose, treat and prevent a wide range of medical conditions, and re-establish health through promoting and supporting the body’s own healing mechanisms. As Andrew Taylor Still, the founder of osteopathy stated: ‘To find health should be the object of the doctor. Anyone can find disease’.
Osteopathy works with manual techniques such as deep tissue massage, mobilisation and manipulation of joints and articulations, and gentle touch to improve function, stimulate venous circulation and lymphatic drainage, and affect the nervous and hormonal systems.
What is cranial osteopathy?
Cranial Osteopathy is a form of osteopathic treatment that uses particularly gentle and subtle methods to effect change throughout the body. The cranial osteopath applies very light pressure on the skull or other parts of the body, releasing stress and tensions and restoring balance. Through the involuntary motion in the tissues, cranial osteopaths are able to detect the buried traumas and stresses in the body and treat them in a gentle and effective way. Cranial osteopathy is suitable for people of all ages, but because of its gentle approach, it is particularly popular in the treatment of babies, children and the elderly.
Cranial osteopaths often see babies who suffer from colic, feeding and sleeping difficulties, ear infection, congestion, wind or sickness, sinus problems and many other complaints. Many new mothers choose to see a cranial osteopath for both themselves and their newborn to help release the stressful impact of the birth.
A cranial osteopathy treatment is usually a very pleasant experience. Patients may feel sensations of light pressure or warmth and often reach a state of deep relaxation by the end of the session. Cranial osteopathy aims not only to relieve symptoms, but to help the body function in its optimum capacity.
What to expect?
Osteopaths offer a patient-centered care. After assessing the patient from a postural, mechanical and functional point of view, an individualised treatment tailored to his needs will be offered to the patient, consisting of hands-on treatment, diet, exercise, lifestyle advice, and/or possible referral.
The consultation will start with the taking of a thorough case history, where in-depth questions about the presenting symptoms will be asked, followed by more general questions about the patient’s health. Examination will then take place, where the patient will be asked to perform some simple movements. The osteopath will then assess movement himself moving the body when it is at rest. The findings will be discussed with the patient, and a treatment proposed. At this point alternatives to the treatment can be discussed if the patient wishes or he/she can be decline the treatment. The choice is entirely his/hers and any treatment will require his/her consent.
What conditions can osteopathy help with?
Osteopathy can help with the following conditions:
- Back pain, hip pain and sciatica
- Neck and shoulder pain
- Frozen shoulder and elbow pain (tennis/golfer’s elbow)
- Knee, ankle and foot injuries
- Joint pain and muscle strains/spasms
- Rheumatic and arthritic pain
- Headaches and migraines
- Nasal congestion and sinusitus
- Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction
- Anxiety and Stress
- Digestion and constipation
- Reflux and colics
