The Key Benefits of Osteopathy
Osteopathic medical principles focus on the mind-body-spirit connection and the body’s ability to heal itself.
The philosophy behind this modality began with US medical doctor, Andrew Taylor Still in 1874 when he discovered the significance of living anatomy in maintaining health and fighting disease.
When one part of our body undergoes any ailment, the rest of the body puts extra effort to compensate for it. Consequences could be stiffness, tension and pain.
An osteopath will treat the entire physical aspects of the body holistically and not a particular problem. Osteopathic treatment is a patient-centered approach to treat the person and not just the disease. Mental factors are also taken into account, which could be the reason behind physical suffering.
Osteopathy is highly beneficial when looking to resolve many conditions, such as ankle or knee pains, strains on joints, arthritis, back pain, asthma, posture issues during pregnancy, sports injury, digestive issues, sleep disorders and more.
Osteopathic medicine doesn’t resort to drugs. Neither is this a surgical treatment. Osteopaths use various hands-on techniques, ranging from gentle to intense, to enhance the musculoskeletal system’s circulation and stability. The goal is to reinstate the normal balance of all the systems and assist the body in self-healing. The ultimate result should be the general well-being and sound health of the patient.
These techniques, known as Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine, is personalized to an individual’s unique symptoms.
- Stretching of the stiff joints
- Gentle pressure for relaxation
- Resistance
Health Benefits of Osteopathy Treatment
Relief from Chronic Pain
Osteopathy can help people with acute or chronic pain, including arthritis, lower back pain, headaches, and ligament damage due to injury. So, how does the treatment aid in relieving this kind of pain?
- It treats the root of the problem and eliminates the pain’s underlying reason through non-invasive procedures. It also reduces stiffness in muscles and joints.
- Poor spinal posture or disc injuries can cause chronic pain. Osteopathy increases the joint range of motions to deal with it.
- The treatment gives you relief from neck pain, migraines, and headaches caused by tension.
- Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition in which the joints’ smooth cartilage wears off, resulting in pain. Although there is no definite cure, osteopathy helps increase flexibility by relaxing the muscle tension around the affected area and improving fluid flow.
Helps with Pregnancy Posture
Women go through various structural and hormonal changes during pregnancy which can cause major discomfort and soreness. The Relaxin hormone loosens the cartilage and tendons to widen the shape of the hips. It is a part of preparing the body for delivery, but it comes with muscle tension, stress and strains.
Osteopathic treatment helps to adapt to these changes and ease the discomfort. Women can go through holistic physical therapy both before and immediately after pregnancy. It will mitigate the pain in the back, neck, pelvis, shoulders, reduce nauseatic tendency, maintain a steady breathing pattern and a healthy digestive system.
In post-pregnancy days, osteopathy helps restore the normal posture and pelvic alignment, cope with pain due to breastfeeding, carrying the baby, and heal from c-section healing.
Cures Insomnia
It is proven that approximately 15% of adults face a serious chronic episode of insomnia every year. Several factors can disturb regular sleeping cycles like stress, anxiety, physical pain, and trauma. Sleeping disorders are associated with the central nervous system. Any misalignment in the vertebrae can disrupt the nervous system causing insomnia.
Cranial osteopathy is a branch of traditional osteopathy specifically designed to help patients sleep better. Osteopaths use advanced techniques to address the trigger point directly, increase circulation of the lymph system and mobility of the spine, and generate a lulling effect. They apply articular techniques like gentle massaging on joints to soothe muscle cramps and tone down the neurological tensions behind insomnia.
Increases Flow and Prevents Injury
Osteopathy gives our body a boost to healing itself faster and revives natural bodily functions. It improves circulation in the body for the distribution of nutrients and oxygen, decreases blood pressure, and maintains lymphatic balance to increase your bodys ability to detox.
Osteopathy helps ensure you don’t face the same injuries while you are recovering from an accident. It increases muscle movement and resiliency of tissues to prevent any further tearing or tissue damage. This treatment is beneficial for athletes and sportspeople who are susceptible to the reoccurrence of such injuries.
Relaxation and Stress Management
Osteopathy is a fantastic way to promote relaxation and ease long-term stress and anxiety. Osteopaths apply gentle and rhythmic massage techniques to relax the stiff muscles, including the lungs, ribs, neck and diaphragm.
It will calm your nervous system and focus on optimal respiration patterns. Gradually you will feel very light and stress-free. Skin-to-skin contact in a massage is very effective in raising dopamine levels and calming the patient.
Incorporating mindfulness in your day-to-day life including your work, is another significant aspect of osteopathy through walking, journaling, and meditation.
