Osteopathy
"Osteopathy is the practical knowledge of how man is made and how to right him when he gets wrong”.....Dr. Andrew Taylor Still
The practice of Osteopathy was developed in America 1874 by Andrew Taylor Still M.D, since then Osteopathy has become an established and recognised system of diagnosis and treatment that lays its main emphasis on the structural integrity of the body. It is distinctive in the fact it recognises much of the pain and disability we suffer stems from the abnormalities in the function of the body structure as well as damage caused to it by disease.
The main principles of osteopathy below are widely taught throughout the international osteopathic community:
- The body is a unit.
- Structure and function are reciprocally inter-related.
- The body possesses self-regulatory mechanisms.
- Treatment considers the three preceeding principles.
These principles are not held by osteopathic physicians to be empirical laws; they are thought to be the underpinnings of the osteopathic philosophy on health and disease.
Treatment
Osteopathy is largely a hands-on approach to investigate the underlying cause of pain and carry out treatment using a variety of techniques.
These may include connective tissue stretching, rhythmic joint movements or high velocity thrust techniques to improve movement of a joint and surrounding tissues. Gentle releasing techniques are also often used particularly when treating children or elderly patients.
Although during treatment some temporary discomfort may be experienced, the treatment is largely pain free.
Treatment times do vary depending on your needs, though you should allow 45mins to an hour for your first consultation, while subsequent visits may take 20 to 30 minutes.
If you prefer to bring a friend a family member for support during your visit/s to the clinic, they will be made very welcome.
What Is Pain?
Often pain is the result of a localised swelling of injured tissue, which creates pressure or chemical change on the surrounding nerves.
Pain is a warning that something is wrong and acts as a natural warning to help prevent you damaging your body further. Osteopaths diagnose the cause of pain and can often do a great deal to help reduce the level and ease your suffering.