What Is Osteopathy?
Eddy Cooper
Our bodies
are subject to many kinds of stress (physical and emotional) every minute of the day. We are designed to combat these stresses and do so when we have a healthy immune system, optimal sleep and nutrition. Sometimes our immune system can be impaired or the stresses and strains simply too much for the body to handle. Events of life such as infections, trauma, accidents, injuries, nutritional problems, emotional stress, environmental issues are all examples of stresses that can overwhelm the body. When the body is compromised problems ensue and this is when intervention becomes necessary.
Osteopathy
is a health care system that lays emphasis on all structural and mechanical elements of the body. To an Osteopath, for your body to work well, its structure must also work well. Osteopaths work to restore your body to a state of balance, where possible without the use of drugs or surgery. Osteopaths use touch, physical manipulation, stretching and massage to increase the mobility of joints, to relieve muscle tension and to enhance the blood and nerve supply of tissues. The osteopathic approach is holistic both looking at the body as a whole and incorporating advice on posture, nutrition and exercise.
Your
initial consultation with an Osteopath will last 45 min to an hour and a comprehensive case history is taken. The Osteopath will listen and ask questions about your problem, your general health, other medical care you are receiving or medication you are taking. Following this you will be examined to establish the source of the symptoms. However, a holistic approach to treatment means an Osteopath will address the factors that may have pre-disposed the mechanical dysfunction for example a shorter leg or rotated pelvis which is ultimately why your neck is more prone to pain than your friend who does exactly the same activities as you. You may be asked to remove some clothes but if you are uncomfortable about this then tell your Osteopath. Once your Osteopath if happy it is something they can treat, rather than refer you to a GP or hospital, treatment can be begin.
The General Osteopathic Council is the regulator for osteopathy in the UK and describes osteopathy as “a system of diagnosis and treatment for a wide range of medical conditions”. Statutory regulation means osteopaths adhere to a code of practice that ensures practitioners are qualified and pursue excellence in both training and treatment. Osteopaths treat 30,000 people a day in the UK and they treat all of the following:
arthritic pain, circulatory problems, cramp, digestion problems, fibromyalgia, general, acute & chronic neck, back, shoulder, elbow, wrist, pelvis, hips, knees, ankles and foot pain, headaches arising from the neck, joint pains from osteoarthritis, generalised aches and pains, migraine prevention, minor sports injuries (strains and sprains), muscle spasms, neuralgia (nerve pain), rheumatic pain, sciatica.
If you suffer from any of the above then osteopathy may be able to help. For an initial appointment visit us at Frederickson Osteopathy. For more information on what to expect when visiting an osteopathy click here.