It is inevitable for a lot of people today feel pain and numbness on their lower back. This pain is due to compression fractures and pressure on spinal nerve roots. Good thing, there is no need to suffer from the pain through the help of an effective non-invasive treatment.
About Osteopathy
Osteopathy is a healthcare profession that utilises a patient focused, physical approach to restoring, maintaining and promoting physical and psychosocial well-being. Primarily treatments take the form of a manual therapy involving massage, mobilisation and spinal manipulation for the treatment of musculoskeletal problems.
Osteopathy is also a drug-free alternative medicine that focuses on strengthening the musculoskeletal framework of the body. It is based on the belief that total body health is obtained by resolving structural problems concerning the bones, joints, and muscles. When addressed, these would positively affect the body’s normal healing process.
What Does an Osteopath Do?
Osteopaths are being licensed physicians who have undergone series of training sessions in any specialty college accredited by the American Osteopathic Association. Usually, they are primary care practitioners such as physicians specializing in family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, and obstetrics-gynecology. However, other healthcare providers can also undergo the said training. The doctors of osteopathy know different sets of hand manipulations such as adjustments of misaligned joints or muscles. These hand techniques are used in order to retain the proper musculoskeletal structure and function.
What are different techniques in Osteopathy?
Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) does not only target the problem area, but it also affects the entire homeostatic processes in the body. OMT is similar to techniques employed in physical therapy and chiropractic medicine.
One of the more important techniques in osteopathy is the muscle energy technique. This is helpful in treating any impaired or altered functions of a particular body system. Osteopaths usually do this by stretching and muscle contraction activities. This is similar to another osteopathic technique called counter strain. Counterstrain applies mild pressure that counteracts the pain-causing strain.
Lymphatic pump treatment is also an important osteopathic technique. This encourages lymph fluid flow in the blood stream by application of forces to the thoracic cage, abdomen, and legs. Increase lymph flow stimulates the movement of stored immune cells in the tissues to responds against infections and inflammations.
Osteopathy is recommended for what diseases?
Generally, OMT is highly effective in treating a lot of illness and dislocations in the body. Some of these includes:
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Lower back pain
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Tennis elbow
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Abdominal cramps
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Restless legs syndrome
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Joint instability and ankle injuries
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Severe muscle spasms and strains
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Menstrual cramps
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Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and more
However, Osteopathy is not recommended for bone dislocations, osteosarcoma, joint septic infections, damaged ligaments, and rheumatoid arthritis affecting the neck area.
Are there any risks?
Not really, just after the Osteopathy treatment, the patient would experience pain, slight headaches, and fatigues. This is due to the body’s response to the treatment. Good thing, these will gradually diminish after 4-24 hours.
Also, there are cases that the treatment can cause stroke and spinal injuries. However, these cases are very very rare.