Manual Osteopathy is a non-invasive, hands-on therapy whose concepts are derived from a deep understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the body. It is a holistic approach to treatment that acknowledges the body's self-regulating capacity to defend, heal and restore proper function. Rather than treating the specific ailment, manual osteopathy identifies the root cause of the dysfunction and treats the whole body as a unit.
The human body is a perfect mechanism with an amazing ability to self-regulate and repair. Corrections through gentle pressure of the manual osteopath’s hands are powerful enough to:
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Reduce muscle spasms
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Reduce fascial adhesions
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Improve mobility
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Improve blood flow to help the body function more effectively
Overall, osteopathic treatments strengthen the body’s framework by creating balance to facilitate healing and minimize symptoms, all that is needed is the magic hand of a skillful operator to facilitate the process.
Conditions Manual Osteopathy can treat
Manual Osteopathy can also be used for preventative therapy offering great benefits to those without pain.​
1
PROMOTE DEEPER BREATHING
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Decreased oxygen circulation results in headaches, tension and muscle pain
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By Naturally improving oxygen levels you can promote the release of toxins and negative energy within the body
2
IMPROVE POSTURE
Posture improves as the spine and muscles around the spine become more flexible and supple resulting in reduced tension throughout the body.
3
IMPROVE CIRCULATION
Improvement in both blood and lymph circulation helps promotes natural healing and maximizes energy level.
4
ENHANCE SKIN TONE AND HEALTH
Osteopathic soft tissue therapy can significantly improve the tone and health of skin after just a few treatment sessions.
5
PROMOTE MENTAL ALERTNESS AND REDUCE ANXIETY
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Manual osteopathy treatments help relax the entire body, reducing stress and promoting mental clarity.
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Usually, anxiety and/or trauma is stored in some key area of the body, By relieving these areas of tension, the mind can ‘let go’ and experience a release of tension/anxiety.
6
IMPROVE FLEXIBILITY AND PREVENT INJURY
The osteopathic muscle energy techniques (MET) are known to improve function & balance by improving range of motion of the joints and the muscle tone. A better function & balance decreases the chance of injuries.
7
CHRONIC AND ACUTE PAIN RELIEF
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Beta-endorphins Manual osteopathic treatment results in increased production of Beta Endorphin (pain suppressor substance) in the body (Thaler et al., 2015)
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Manual osteopathy is effective in treating chronic pain but is usually the last resort for many patients.
8
IMPROVE ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE
Osteopathic muscle energy techniques are known to increase athletic performance by improving function, balance, muscle tone and flexibility.
9
HELP WITH FERTILITY ISSUES
Manual osteopathy can help reduce scar tissue or adhesions around the reproductive system allowing for improved mobility and promoting circulation to the reproductive organs.
10
RELIEVE ABDOMINAL DISCOMFORT
Visceral osteopathy focuses on improving motility of the abdominal organs by gently manipulating them, reducing adhesions and promoting blood-flow which improves function of the organ.
SIMILARITIES
DIFFERENCES
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All treat musculoskeletal pain and dysfunctions
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All three use non-invasive, manual techniques to treat pain.
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Chiropractors: Believe pain results from subluxation/misalignment. They treat pain by adjusting the spine or extremities using High-velocity low amplitude (HVLA) force. They focus mainly on the spine and nervous system. ​​
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Physiotherapists: Provide rehabilitation after an illness or injury. They generally target the tissues involved and provide therapy that focuses on muscle strengthening.
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Manual Osteopaths: Have a holistic approach and view the body as a unit. They restore alignment through gentle mobilization, muscle energy techniques, and soft tissue work.