What Is Manual Osteopathy & What Can It Treat? | Red Deer
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What Is Manual Osteopathy & What Can It Treat?

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A manual osteopathy therapist treating a client to help with musculoskeletal problems, posture issues, and tension.

If you’ve ever experienced damage to your musculoskeletal system, like arthritis or a sports injury, you know how much of an impact it has on your life. It can be debilitating trying to navigate your daily life when you’re dealing with chronic pain or stress. Fortunately, you may be able to find relief through manual osteopathy.

Manual osteopathy is a form of alternative medicine designed to treat musculoskeletal problems through hands-on techniques. It’s based on the belief that the body’s systems are interconnected and that by strengthening the structure, a trained therapist can improve your body’s function. It can be an excellent way to deal with musculoskeletal problems, posture issues, and tension.

What Is Manual Osteopathy?

Manual osteopathy is a form of alternative medicine aimed at addressing and improving various health issues by stimulating your body’s natural healing processes. It focuses on the health of your entire body, not just the symptomatic areas, making it a holistic approach to wellness.

It’s founded on the belief that everything in the body is connected and that the structure and function of your body are closely linked. It aims to help improve the physical structure of your body to improve how well certain areas work.

Manual osteopathy addresses problems and imbalances in the musculoskeletal system—the system that provides the framework and structure of the body while allowing you to move about freely. By correcting these problems, manual osteopathy aims to restore the function of your body.

How Does Manual Osteopathy Work?

When you’re starting manual osteopathy, it begins with a visit to a trained therapist. They’ll assess your range of motion before forming a proper diagnosis to help determine where the issue is coming from.

Then, they’ll perform a series of actions, manipulating your limbs and applying gentle amounts of pressure to certain areas to treat the affected areas.

Begin with an Assessment

Every journey begins with a single step, and in manual osteopathy, that step is a comprehensive assessment. Our skilled practitioners will take a detailed history and conduct a thorough physical examination to understand your condition better and determine if osteopathy is right for you.

We’ll examine your:

  • Medical history
  • Standing and seated posture
  • Range of motion

Receive a Diagnosis

Once we’ve gathered all the necessary information, we’ll form a diagnosis of what exactly is occurring. This diagnosis helps us create a personalized treatment plan that can address your specific needs and goals.

We’ll determine what parts of your body are being affected by your injury and what parts it may be affecting in return. This lets us take a holistic approach to addressing the entire problem rather than just one specific part of your body.

Start Hands-On Treatment

Once we have a full understanding of your unique situation, we’ll begin treatment. Our therapists use a variety of manual techniques, but they’ll likely use:

  • Osteo articulation, which is the manipulation of specific joints and soft tissue 
  • Joint manipulation
  • Cranial sacral, which is the gentle manipulation of the head and spinal column
  • Visceral manipulation, which works with the internal organs
  • Myofascial release, which is a gentle manipulation of the connective tissue in your body

Your therapist will use these techniques, either alone or in combination, to promote your body’s natural healing process and restore your body’s natural function. And don’t worry—it’s all performed in a low-impact and gentle manner.

Learn How to Maintain Results

Finally, we believe in the power of education. Once your treatment is complete, we’ll equip you with the knowledge and tools you need to preserve and continue your progress. This can help you avoid developing further problems in the future and promote your overall well-being.

A manual osteopathy therapist treating a client for posture issues, lower back pain, tension, and more.

What Conditions Can Manual Osteopathy Treat?

Manual osteopathy aims to help most conditions that affect our body systems. It can help with:

  • Posture issues
  • Lower back pain
  • Tension and chronic stress
  • Headaches or migraines
  • Soft tissue damage
  • Sports injuries
  • Pelvic floor issues or painful period
  • Bladder control issues
  • Repetitive strain issues like arthritis or tennis elbow
  • A more balanced nervous system
  • Pregnancy-related discomfort

Remember, manual osteopathy doesn’t cure diseases or reverse medical problems. Instead, it aims to stimulate your body’s natural healing abilities, restore function in certain areas, and reduce symptoms. It can improve mobility, decrease pain, and encourage your body to heal properly.

Try Manual Osteopathy at Recovery Lab

If manual osteopathy sounds like it could work for you, come visit our team at Recovery Lab. Our team is ready to guide you on your journey to recovery. Let’s work together toward a happier, healthier you. Contact us today to discuss manual osteopathy to see if it could work for you!

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