Osteopath use a wide range of manual techniques to help reduce pain and improve mobility. They also use techniques to encourage the body’s self-regulating, self-healing processes.
They see the body as a whole and believe that structure and function are intimately connected. This means that osteopathic treatment can enhance wellbeing by normalising blood flow and nerve supply to all parts of the body.
Reducing Tension
If you are experiencing ongoing pain that medication isn’t helping, an osteopath Ivanhoe can use techniques such as myofascial release and deep tissue massage to reduce muscle tightness. These techniques can also help to improve joint stability and circulation. This can provide immediate relief from the pain and also help to restore your body’s natural ability to heal itself.
One of the fundamental principles of osteopathy is that the whole body is interconnected and that each part has an effect on other parts, even if they are distant from the area of pain. This is why osteopathic treatment addresses the whole body, rather than just treating the specific site of pain.
Many things can cause headaches, including stress, poor posture, neck tension and trauma. A common type of headache that osteopaths treat is cervicogenic headache, which is caused by strain increasing the pressure on the occipital nerves, which run down the back of your head and into the eyes.
Osteopathic techniques such as gently rocking the spinal vertebrae and ‘rising’ or releasing the ribs can reduce this pressure and have a calming effect on the nervous system. This can reduce symptoms such as anxiety, depression and improve sleep patterns, which in turn can boost your immune system, improving overall health and wellbeing. This can help you manage your pain and reduce the need for medication in the long term.
Reducing Inflammation
Osteopath in Watsonia often use massage, articulations and other techniques to reduce the effects of inflammation on the neuro-musculoskeletal system. This can reduce the pain caused by inflammatory conditions and also enhance tissue healing and promote general health and well-being.
Osteopaths goes beyond just symptom relief by also addressing the imbalances and dysfunctions that cause pain to return. This means that osteopaths will treat other areas of the body that can contribute to the pain, such as the visceral system – gently moving and releasing restrictions in the organs of the abdomen. This can improve organ function, increase blood flow and help to reduce referred pain.
They will also help you to address lifestyle factors that may be contributing to your pain, such as poor posture or work environment and exercise routines that put unnecessary stress on the joints. This can include dietary changes, ergonomic adjustments at home or work and stress reduction techniques.
In addition, osteopaths can improve your sleep quality, which in turn can boost the immune system and support the body’s natural healing processes. Incorporating osteopathy into your chronic pain management plan can help you enjoy a more active and healthy life.
Restoring Balance
Using gentle massage and manipulation techniques, Osteopath helps restore balance in the musculoskeletal system and reduce strain on areas of the body that are overworked, promoting decreased pain, increased mobility, and normalized strength. Also, they provide health advice such as diet, exercise, and work posture to improve the overall quality of life.”
Back pain, including herniated discs, sciatica and spinal problems such as arthritis can be treated with osteopathic manipulation to relieve the pain, improve spine alignment and mobility. They can also help ease neck and shoulder pain that may be caused by poor posture, muscle tension or underlying conditions such as rotator cuff problems.
Migraines, upper neck pain and chronic headaches all have a musculoskeletal component. Also can use manual techniques to release muscle tension, improve circulation and reduce the frequency and intensity of headaches.
Cranial bones have a minute rhythm of expansion and retraction about ten thousand times a day that acts as a pump to move fluids around the brain and skull. If this flow is disrupted, osteopathic techniques can free up the sutures and restore a healthy craniosacral rhythm. Sleep can be affected by chronic pain, leading to a lack of energy and increased stress levels. Osteopathic treatment can ease the discomfort and promote a good night’s rest, leading to improved energy and a better quality of life.
Restoring Mobility
Aiming to improve circulation and lymphatic drainage in the body, osteopaths use soft tissue techniques to relieve tension and help the muscles and other soft tissues heal. This helps reduce pain, improve function and promotes mobility. Osteopaths also use joint manipulation and mobilization techniques to restore the full range of motion in the joints and muscles. The osteopathic principle often summarized as “the rule of the artery is supreme” emphasizes the importance of good blood flow to support and facilitate healing. It also ensures that nerve signals can travel easily, which is important for chronic pain conditions like neuropathic pain.
Osteopathy is practiced by doctors called osteopathic physicians, who undergo rigorous medical training and have additional specialization in the musculoskeletal system. They are licensed to treat a wide range of health problems including breathing issues like asthma, gastrointestinal disorders such as IBS and constipation, headaches, migraines, fibromyalgia, menstrual cramps and other musculoskeletal problems.
Osteopathy is a safe, gentle, and effective treatment for aches and pains. A consultation typically starts with the patient describing their symptoms and medical history followed by a physical examination of the affected area. The osteopath may also ask about other parts of the body to see if there are any imbalances that could contribute to the condition. For example, sciatica is caused by compression of the spinal cord and nerve roots in the lower back. An osteopath will address this issue by releasing tight muscles and soft tissues in the upper back and hips to allow the spine to move freely.
