What is Osteopathy?

Description of Osteopathy
Osteopathic Training and Registration
History of Osteopathy
How does osteopathic treatment work?
Techniques
Conditions that may be helped with Osteopathy

Description of Osteopathy

Osteopathy is an established, well accepted form of physical therapy. It focuses on the musculo-skeletal system (muscles, joints, ligaments etc.) and the way in which this interrelates with the body as a whole.

Using palpation (feeling through the hands) and many of the diagnostic procedures applied in conventional medical treatment, osteopaths seek to identify the mechanical problems in the body.

Then, using a variety of techniques, osteopaths provide a safe, natural and non-invasive treatment tailored to the individual patient, aiming to restore the optimal functioning of the body and its ability to heal without the use of drugs or surgery.

You should not feel rushed when attending an appointment with an osteopath.  Your osteopath will take the time to listen to the particulars of your problem and will not only treat the direct symptoms but also, in time, work with you to rectify the cause and prevent it from happening again.  This will include scanning the mechanics of areas quite remote from the symptoms (e.g. looking at the feet and pelvis to prevent recurring headaches) and to offer advice on lifestyle changes and specific rehabilitation exercises.

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Osteopathic Training and Registration

All osteopaths have trained to a minimum standard of competency to ensure the safety of their patients.  Originally this was recognised as a Diploma of Osteopathy (DO) but more recently all osteopaths must study a minimum of 4 year full time to achieve a Bachelor of Science (BSc.) or Bachelor of Osteopathy (B Ost.) degree.

In addition to the hours spent learning the academic components like anatomy and physiology, all students must also attend a minimum of 1000 supervised clinic hours. Such wide-ranging medical training gives osteopaths the skills to diagnose conditions when osteopathic treatment is not advisable, and the patient must be referred to a GP for further investigation.

The General Osteopathic Council (GOsC) was established under the Osteopaths Act 1993 to regulate, promote and develop the osteopathic profession in the UK, maintaining a Statutory Register of those entitled to practise osteopathy.

Only practitioners meeting the highest standards of safety and competency are eligible for registration.  Proof of good health, good character and professional indemnity insurance cover is also a requirement.

It is an offence for anyone to describe themselves as an osteopath and practise as such, unless registered with the GOsC.  The public can, therefore, be confident in visiting an osteopath that they will experience safe and competent treatment from a practitioner who adheres to a strict Code of Conduct.

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History of Osteopathy

Andrew Taylor Still (1828-1917) was the founder of Osteopathy.  Disillusioned with the medicine of his day, which relied on blood letting and sometimes lethal doses of poisons like mercury, Still combined his readings of medical texts with an interest in machinery and nature to conceive Osteopathy in 1874.

He laid forth the 3 original tenets of osteopathy namely:
- structure governs function
- the body contains it's own medicine chest
- and the rule of the artery is supreme.

Still strongly believed that if the bodies normal structure was altered or malaligned then its function would be affected and disease would ensue.  By helping the body back to more normal alignment then health would be regained. Through years of dedicated study he acquired a near perfect knowledge of the body's anatomy and implored his 'children' (students of the first osteopathic school) to similarly master anatomy. 

"The Osteopath’s business is to know the plumbing of the house of life."

Still's original philosophy of osteopathy is still at the heart of today's osteopathic profession.  Today's practitioners still study anatomy to an impressive degree and relate structural dysfunction to the patients' presenting symptoms. Treatment is aimed at realising an improved functioning, balanced structure and hence improving the local function of the circulatory and nervous system.

More information can be found through the Links page.

Photo of A T Still is the property of the Still National Osteopathic Museum.

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How does osteopathic treatment work?

Osteopaths encourage the body’s own healing mechanisms to fix the problem by creating the right environment for them to do so. This is achieved by improving quantity and quality of movement in restricted joints, balancing muscle tension, improving blood supply and drainage and ensuring unimpeded nerve conduction.

Quite often vicious cycles occur (self perpetuating problems) and it only needs a small intervention to make a significant improvement.  

Techniques

Osteopaths work with their hands and use a wide variety of techniques including:

Ø Soft tissue massage to reduce muscle tension and dissipate inflammation;
Ø Stretching techniques to release muscle tension and readdress muscle balance;
Ø Gentle articulations to improve the quality and quantity of joint mobility;
Ø Gentle manipulation to release immobile or restricted joints;
Ø Lymphatic drainage techniques to reduce congestion and improve fluid circulation;
Ø Therapeutic, lifestyle and nutritional advice and exercises to promote healing
        and also to prevent recurrence.

Conditions that may be helped with Osteopathy

As osteopaths consider all aspects of your body's structure, function and lifestyle it is easy to understand why the list of treatable conditions is very long. Osteopaths are able to help ease pain, discomfort and stiffness by using simple techniques and exercises to return more normal function to joints, muscles, nerves and the circulatory system of arteries, veins and lymphatics.

 Not forgetting that the body has its own innate capacity to heal itself, osteopaths provide a helping hand to initiate change and create an environment in which the body does the rest.

Here  a just a few conditions that patients regularly say osteopaths help them with.  The list is certainly not exhaustive and so if you would like to know if osteopathy can help you pick up the phone and call now.

Ø Back Pain
Ø Painful and restricted neck
Ø Sciatica
Ø Repetitive strain injuries
Ø Arthritic pain (shoulders, thumbs, hips, knees...)
Ø Shoulder problems/Frozen Shoulder
Ø Tennis elbow
Ø Sporting injuries
Ø Pregnancy related problems
Ø Bursitis
Ø Plantar Fasciitis

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Back Pain

The majority of patients that seek help from an osteopath present with back pain. This may be anything from just stiffness and a niggle to intense, unbearable pain.  The onset may simply be from sleeping awkwardly, a lifting strain, an accident, a sudden jerky movement, wear and tear or from pregnancy related problems. 

Your osteopath is one of the best professionals to diagnose which of many tissues is causing the pain and how best to treat it.  This may be a simple joint restriction that will respond quickly to treatment or it may be more complex like a disc prolapse with nerve irritation or even referral from an internal organ.  It is important to establish what structure is causing your back pain as this will determine what treatment, if any, can be given and the do's and don'ts advice that will aid recovery.

Your General Practitioner has to know a lot about everything.  An osteopath is an expert in musculoskeletal conditions and in particular about back pain as most patients present with this type of pain.  If your osteopath requires some medical investigations to assist in the determination of the "tissue causing symptoms" like blood tests, x-rays, ultrasounds and orthopaedic or neurologist consultations they will liaise with your GP.

Most problems turn out to be within the remit of an osteopath's skills.  A variety of correctly chosen techniques are employed and advice on how to best care for the condition are always provided.  Good results are often quickly achieved or your symptoms significantly lessened. Furthermore, your osteopath will give you advice on how to avoid a future recurrence.

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Painful and Restricted Neck

Most of us have experienced a sore neck at some point in time.  This can manifest as just a tired ache from too long at the computer or similar activity, to more intense pain with the neck muscles in spasm and severely limiting movement.

The neck is a tightly packed area of soft and bony tissues together with important internal structures such as the spinal cord, oesophagus, trachea, blood vessels, thyroid gland, etc.  All of which may be the source of your pain, however, in most cases it is likely to be from your muscles, ligaments, discs or facets joints.

Neck pain and stiffness may result from a known trauma like a car accident or falling over, however, it sometimes appears quite out of the blue on waking.  Often this is due to sleeping awkwardly, in a draught, or from an event many days previous, subsequently forgotten.  Some medical conditions can give rise to neck pain and stiffness.

The restricted movement may be from tight muscles guarding the area, due to local swelling, or simply due to pain avoidance.

Pain, weakness, pins and needles, numbness or similar funny feeling may also be felt in the shoulder, arm, forearm, hand and fingers.  This is a result of some structure pressing on a nerve in your neck, or further down its pathway, causing a confused message to be sent to your brain.

Your osteopath will assess your neck after interpreting your answers to many questions and arrive at a working diagnosis.  This may require you to have some medical investigations before any treatment is provided or it may be appropriate to provide treatment there and then.

Tight muscles can be relaxed, swelling can be encouraged to dissipate and restricted joints can be articulated to provide increased freedom of movement. Many neck problems will resolve themselves over time but it may be prudent to get it checked out, receive some relief with treatment and advice on how to resolve the problem and prevent its recurrence.  If in doubt ask your osteopath for their advice.

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 Information to come shortly...

I am progressively working my way through this list adding useful information under each condition heading.  Please call me for a no obligation chat about your condition of interest, what it is and how osteopathy might be able to help. Tel: 01397 702257.

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