How Does Osteopathy Work – A Brief Explanation

Osteopathy is a form of manual physical therapy that involves a variety of musculoskeletal elements to  treat the whole body. It takes a holistic approach considering all aspects of the patient- mind, body, emotional and spiritual health.

Popularity

Although originated in China, in recent times the popularity of osteopathic treatment has increased in the western countries too. Osteopathy is a process of diagnosis and treatment for a wide range of medical conditions and works mainly on the structure and function of the body. And, hence it’s now popular among a good number of people.

Who and what do osteopaths treat?

Osteopathic patients include the young, elderly people, manual workers, sports professionals, pregnant women, children and athletes. Patients seek treatment for a wide variety of conditions, including back pain, changes to posture in pregnancy, postural problems caused by driving or work strain, the pain of arthritis and minor sports injuries.

Types of Osteopathic Treatment

According to the treatment patterns, osteopathic treatment can be of various types. Such as –

• Soft tissue massage

• Spinal manipulation

• Strengthening muscle and joint capsule

• Visceral manipulation

• Rhythmic joint movements

How Does Osteopathy Work?

The effects of osteopathy cannot be measured by the techniques it uses. To an Osteopath (more specifically clinical osteopath), the end goal is to bring balance, harmony and balance.

An expert osteopathic therapist will choose techniques depending on a patient’s need, body type, age, the amount of energy he has, and the past injuries that lead to his symptoms.

Structural Osteopathy

Structural osteopathic techniques deal with joints, bones, ligaments, and muscles of the human body. They include a variety of gentle manipulations, from restoring balance in the joints of the body, to muscle energy techniques where the patient actively corrects the dysfunction with the muscles.

Visceral Osteopathy

The idea behind visceral work is to release tension in the guts that is affecting the rest of your body. Their mobilization uses the same principles as a joint, linking two bones with ligaments, tendons, and connective tissues. The digestive tract has got “visceral joints” between the guts and the bony structure.

Cranial Osteopathy

Cranial osteopathy or craniosacral osteopathy deals with the skull, the central nervous system, and the cerebrospinal fluid that, together, link the mind and body as a unit. This is an essential tool in treating the body holistically.

Osteopathy therapy is as effective as standard medical care in treating various pain and may be able to reduce use of pain medication.