Osteopathy is a form of manual therapy that focuses on the neuromusculoskeletal system, which includes muscles, bones, nerves, fascia, and other tissues. Osteopaths aim to enhance overall health by improving blood circulation, joint mobility, reducing pain, and encouraging physical activity. These goals are achieved through a variety of techniques that are tailored to the patient's specific needs, using different levels of pressure depending on the individual’s condition and needs. The treatment may include several techniques such as:

What is Osteopathy?

  • Articulation involves gentle, rhythmic movements designed to stretch and lubricate the joint, enhancing its range of motion, flexibility, and reducing pain. These movements help promote optimal joint function by improving the flow of synovial fluid to lubricate the joint. In some cases, articulation may be combined with traction, which applies a controlled pulling force to create space between the joints. This further enhances mobility by reducing compression and promoting better joint movement.

  • Muscle Energy Technique (MET) is a commonly used approach in osteopathy that focuses on lengthening and relaxing muscles through the patient's own muscle contractions. During MET, the patient is guided to contract specific muscles against a resistance provided by the practitioner. This controlled contraction helps to release muscle tension, promote relaxation, and increase muscle length, ultimately improving flexibility and reducing discomfort.

  • Soft tissue massage is a hands-on therapeutic technique that targets the musculoskeletal system. It involves the practitioner applying varying amounts of pressure and utilizing different techniques to enhance blood circulation, reduce muscle tension, and promote relaxation. During the session, the practitioner typically uses a lubricant, such as cream or oil, to facilitate smooth movement and enhance the effectiveness of the treatment.

  • Balanced Ligamentous Tension (BLT) is a gentle osteopathic technique that focuses on the ligaments of the body. It involves subtle, precise movements that help restore the ligaments to a balanced, neutral state. By addressing the tension within the ligaments, this technique promotes improved mobility, reduces muscle tension, and encourages overall musculoskeletal harmony.

  • Counterstrain is an osteopathic technique that involves identifying tender points in the patient's body and positioning the affected area into a position of comfort. This position is held for approximately 90 seconds, allowing the nervous system to activate specific neural pathways that help relax the muscles. By doing so, Counterstrain promotes improved mobility, enhances blood flow, and alleviates muscle tension, contributing to overall relief and healing.

  • Dry needling involves the insertion of thin, solid acupuncture needles into specific points in the body, known as trigger points. These trigger points are hyperirritable areas within tight bands of muscle tissue. The insertion of the needles helps stimulate blood flow to the affected area, which can reduce muscle tension and alleviate pain. By targeting these trigger points, dry needling aims to promote healing, improve muscle function, and relieve discomfort.

  • Cupping therapy uses plastic or glass suction cups placed on the patient's body. The suction created by the cups draws blood to the area, which helps improve circulation, alleviate muscle tension, and reduce pain. This increased blood flow encourages the healing process, promoting relaxation and overall well-being.

What do osteopaths treat?

Osteopaths are skilled in treating and managing a wide range of conditions related to the neuromusculoskeletal system. These conditions include, but are not limited to:

  • Neck and jaw pain

  • Shoulder injuries

  • Tennis elbow

  • Carpal tunnel syndrome

  • Sciatica

  • Back pain

  • Osteoarthritis

  • Plantar fasciitis

  • Muscle strains and sprains

What Makes Osteopathy Unique?

What sets osteopathy apart from other medical treatments is its holistic approach to care. Osteopaths are trained to look beyond the localized area of pain. For instance, if a patient is experiencing ankle pain, an osteopath may also assess the knee and hip to identify any potential contributing factors. This whole-body perspective ensures that osteopathic treatment addresses not just the symptoms, but also the underlying causes of discomfort.

Osteopaths rely heavily on hands-on techniques, using their hands as the primary diagnostic tool and treatment method. This hands-on approach is fundamental to the osteopathic philosophy, allowing practitioners to directly engage with the body and tailor treatments in real-time.

Additionally, osteopaths follow a unique set of principles that guide their practice. These include:

  1. The Body is a Unit: The body functions as a whole, and an issue in one area can affect the entire system.

  2. The Body Has an Inherent Self-Healing Mechanism: The body has an innate ability to heal itself when provided with the right conditions.

  3. Structure and Function are Interrelated: The structure of the body influences its function, and vice versa.

  4. Rational Treatment is Based on Integration of the First Three Principles: Effective treatment involves understanding and applying these principles to address the overall health of the patient.