What exactly is osteopathy ?
Osteopathy is a non-invasive healthcare system developed in the late 1800’s by Dr Andrew Taylor Still who was disillusioned with the conventional medicine of his day. Osteopathy uses many of the diagnostic procedures involved in conventional medical assessment and diagnosis as well as assessing patients bio-mechanically, functionally and posturally.
Osteopathy is both a manual therapy, which uses an established, recognised system of diagnosis and treatment with its main emphasis on the structural integrity of the body. Plus an holistic therapy which means that is considers the body as a whole being. It is distinctive in the fact that it recognises much of the pain and disability we suffer stems from abnormalities in the function of the body structure as well as damage caused to it by disease processes.
What are the different types of osteopathy ?
An osteopaths training results in some nuanced skills:
- Osteopaths are trained to develop their touch and knowledge about the body
- Osteopaths are trained at length to acquire a deep knowledge of body structures (bones, joints, organs, viscera, muscles, etc.).
- Osteopaths have a great sense of observation, as well as an extreme finesse of touch, allowing them to detect slight blockages or particularly subtle movements.
Consequently, the different techniques osteopathy can use are:
- Myofascial release is a technique of manipulation that uses constant pressure until release is achieved. It is primarily used for myofascial structures.
- Craniosacral therapy uses a light touch to feel and ‘listen’ to your body – much like when the medical history is taken. Contacts are made at the base of the spine, the head as well as other areas depending on the symptoms. Osteopaths are trained to feel a very subtle, rhythmical shape change that is present in all body tissues. This is called “Involuntary Motion” or the “Cranial Rhythm”.
- Soft tissue manipulation is a manual technique that is used to stretch or relax dysfunctional soft tissue structures.
- Visceral techniques: our visceral organs form an important part of our anatomy and physiology, making them a significant consideration when formulating osteopathic diagnoses and treatment plans. The holistic approach to osteopathy emphasises this. This is usually performed through a gentle external massage often on the abdomen