About Osteopathy
Osteopathy is the name Dr Still, our founder, gave to the profession and it comes from the Greek osteon {bone} and pathos {to suffer}.
This has created some confusion as people often think that osteopaths only treat conditions associated with bones. It is however, a complete health care profession, utilising a range of principles to diagnose and treat a wide spectrum of complaints and injuries.
- Practitioners take a detailed case history, carry out an examination and (if appropriate) create a treatment plan specific to the clients needs.
- Working with their hands they use a wide variety of treatment techniques which may include soft tissue, rhythmic passive mobilisation of joints, thrust techniques all designed to improve mobility, range of movement and a return to health.
- Gentle release techniques are often used, including cranial osteopathy, which is safe and appropriate for the frail and the very young, including babies.
Osteopathic treatment is not so different from orthodox medical practice except that their focus is generally on the illness and their treatment often involves the use of drugs or surgery. Osteopaths on the other hand, focus on the body as whole, tracing the changes in function that have taken place over a period of time and how this has affected the structure and function leading to imbalanced in the body and causing ill health.
Can you relate to this? A story of how pain develops…
As a child you fall very hard on to your bottom (riding, skateboarding or just in play). Mum “rubs it better” but the pain last for several weeks. All’s well until in your mid/late teens you have a growth spurt and your back aches, maybe your first bout of sciatica, muscle relaxants and anti-inflammatories help. You reduce/give up sport because it hurts when you do them. By the time you are in your thirties you have a family, stressful job and time to keep fit is a distant memory. You start to have digestive problems, take medication, change your diet but by the time you reach forty you have a major attack of low back pain. This puts you in bed for several weeks and off work for longer (hard if you are self employed). Hoping to avoid surgery offered by the GP, you decide to visit an osteopath.
Sound familiar?
In Conclusion
Osteopathy can help many conditions but the best results come from working with you. Your help and a positive attitude will aid a speedy return to health. Some of the conditions that can be treated are:
- Low back pain,
- headaches and migraines,
- arthritis,
- neck and shoulder stiffness,
- stress,
- sports injuries,
- pregnancy related problems,
- babies and children with growth or sleep difficulties.
In some cases help can be achieved with
- autism,
- dyslexia and poor co-ordination.
The list is not exhaustive. If you are not sure: