What Is Osteopathy?
Osteopathy is a form of manual therapy that focuses on the whole person as a complete unit. Osteopathic manual treatment aims to remove restrictions throughout the body, thus reducing pain, improving mobility, and optimizing function. Osteopathy incorporates a number of treatment methods and modalities, including joint mobilization, soft tissue therapy, and muscle energy techniques. By using these techniques, osteopathic treatment can stimulate the body’s natural resources thereby facilitating further healing.
A fundamental component of osteopathy is that structure and function are intimately related. When a body structure (or numerous structures) are out of alignment -- such as twisted hips or asymmetrical shoulders -- restrictions can occur in muscles and fascia, which in turn can compromise and inhibit how the body functions. Osteopathic treatment can be beneficial in addressing these structural issues, thus reducing musculoskeletal pain, correcting posture, increasing joint mobility, and improving circulation, neural function, and digestive function. With all health issues, an osteopathic manual practitioner seeks to treat the underlying cause of the pain or condition rather than merely the symptoms, which encourages the body to begin to heal and bring itself back into a state of balance.
An osteopathic manual practitioner has comprehensive training in assessing and treating a multitude of chronic health disorders and physical ailments. You can find our osteopathic manual practitioner’s bio here.
Which conditions are commonly treated by manual osteopathy?
Back and neck pain
Headaches
TMJ (Temporomandibular joint disorders)
Shoulder, elbow, and wrist pain
Hip, knee, and ankle pain
Plantar fasciitis
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Digestive issues (such as IBS)
Chronic pain and inflammation
Nerve impingement like sciatica
Overuse injuries
Decreased mobility
Postural imbalances
What can you expect in your osteopathic appointments?
Appointments can vary based on the length of the treatment time as well as the complexity of the client’s health condition. All appointments are unique and individualized to treat each client’s unique pain pattern; as no two people are alike, neither is their pain. Your first appointment is one hour in length which allows for an initial intake and a visual and physical assessment, as well as manual therapy. The manual therapy aims to address the dysfunctions identified in the assessment. The client’s treatment plan also includes corrective exercises and stretches, which are typically recommended at the completion of the appointment to be done at home and are intended to enhance the effects of the in-clinic treatment. Subsequent appointments will begin with a brief re-assessment of the condition(s) followed by an extensive hands-on osteopathic manual treatment targeted to your concerns.
Is osteopathic manual treatment supported by research?
Osteopathy has been found to be helpful for various chronic health conditions. Chronic pain continues to be poorly understood and often difficult to manage, affecting an estimated 1 in 5 Canadians. A common type of chronic pain to which many people can relate is non-specific low back pain. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 60 to 70 percent of the populations in industrialized countries will experience it at least once in their lifetime. This is where osteopathy may be of great benefit. In fact, a systematic review and meta-analysis on the effectiveness of osteopathic treatment on low back pain found that osteopathic manual therapy significantly reduces low back pain -- with relief lasting for at least three months following treatment. For individuals suffering from chronic pain in the low back that just won’t go away, osteopathic manual therapy may be a great next step.
Other notoriously common physical ailments are chronic headaches, migraines, and neck pain. Pain in these areas can often be related, as tight muscles can pull on the structures in the neck, leading to discomfort and headaches, which are typically referred to as “tension headaches”. Osteopathic treatment has been found to be helpful in alleviating these symptoms. For example, a study in more than 130 people who suffered from chronic non-specific neck pain (CNP) concluded that osteopathic treatment can improve the quality of life for those suffering from CNP. Additionally, a systematic review on the effects of osteopathic manual therapy on patients who suffer from headaches concluded that osteopathic treatment is beneficial for both headaches and migraines and can reduce the number of episodes per month, lending to less need for pharmaceutical interventions.
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ), the joint which connects your lower jaw to your skull, is surprisingly susceptible to dysfunction. In fact, TMJ disorders are the second most prevalent musculoskeletal condition after chronic low back pain. Dysfunctions of the TMJ can cause pain and discomfort around the joint itself, but also difficulty or pain while chewing, aching in and around the ears, as well as facial pain -- highlighting the interconnectedness of the body’s myofascial system. A study in patients with long-term TMJ disorders found that osteopathic treatment in combination with cranial osteopathy can be effective for treating TMJ dysfunction and also had a positive impact on the quality of life of the patients. Both osteopathic joint mobilization techniques as well as cranial osteopathy may be of great benefit to help release the muscles surrounding the TMJ, allowing the joint to restore its proper function.
Another form of chronic pain, although not typically thought of in the same light as the musculoskeletal conditions above, is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Yet, this condition is estimated to affect up to 18% of all Canadians. IBS can severely affect the quality of life for those who suffer from it. A study published in the journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology showed that individuals who suffered from IBS experienced a statistically significant decrease in symptom severity after just seven days of osteopathic treatment. This may be because osteopathy addresses neuromuscular connections in the body, or what is otherwise known as the “gut-brain axis” -- a system that is affected in patients who suffer from IBS.
If you suffer from any of these conditions, or have a nagging chronic pain that just won’t go away, then osteopathic treatment may be the right fit for you. Click here to book an appointment today!
