Osteopathy is a medical practice that adopts a drug-free approach to treatment and health. Osteopathy relies on the use of non-invasive manual therapy. Elementary Health, an osteopathy clinic, notes that the approach emphasizes the musculoskeletal system’s role in maintaining health and wellness. Using osteopathic modalities and treatment approaches, specialists can help their patients to address health conditions, promote optimal health, prevent and treat illnesses. The treatment approach offered by osteopaths is based on the belief that the body can self-sustain itself. Being an interrelated unit of structure and function, osteopathic treatments focus on helping the body find its balance, thus signaling its self-healing abilities.
Cranial osteopathy, on the other hand, isn’t too different from osteopathy. However, cranial osteopathy is a more subtle and refined form of osteopathy that follows the traditional osteopathy principles but includes the anatomy and physiology of the head. Cranial osteopaths rely on their highly trained sense of touch to diagnose subtle changes in tissue quality and tension. This knowledge is used to identify dysfunctional areas that require attention.
Osteopaths mostly focus on the areas of the body that have been affected in the past by trauma from injuries or accidents. The patient may be unaware of their body’s coping mechanism to compensate for the trauma in the affected area. Still, the osteopath is skilled and trained to identify these affected areas and help patients restore balance. Balance is usually restored in the form of tension release and modalities aimed at promoting healing, wellness, and health.
What to Expect from Osteopathy
Osteopathy treatments are more hands-on. Manual therapy takes the patient’s health history into account in the formulation of treatment plans. Depending on the patient’s health needs, the osteopath can formulate a wide range of postural, dietary, and occupational advice that will help the patient improve their health and wellness. The osteopath can also recommend practical and effective treatment to address illnesses and assist in managing diseases and painful conditions.
An osteopath pays attention to the significant changes in the different parts of the body, including the muscles, joints, ligaments, connective tissues, and bones. These changes are capable of affecting the function of the body, leading to painful symptoms and discomfort. By identifying the problem areas, the osteopath can formulate a better treatment approach instead of prescribing medications and drugs that only address the symptoms.
Conditions Treated with Osteopathy
Osteopathy has been proven effective in the treatment of a wide range of health conditions. Patients who suffer from acute and chronic pain, neck pain, back pain, muscle stiffness, joint pain, migraines, headaches, and other kinds of pain have attested to the positive effects of osteopathy in managing the painful condition. Osteopathy can also be used to treat muscle aches, cramps, spasms, and muscle pain. Patients who suffer from arthritic pain in the knee, ankle, hip, and other joints in the body can also take advantage of the non-invasive treatment.
Common health problems like sciatica, bursitis, neuralgia, rheumatic pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, pins and needles, trapped nerves, numbness, frozen shoulder, and more can also be treated through osteopathic practices. Health concerns relating to digestive disorders, postural or occupational strains, trauma, injuries, whiplash, sciatica, spinal disc injuries, lifting strains, asthma, chest problems, and breathing difficulties, congested sinuses, period pain, circulatory problems, repetitive strain injury, and more can also be treated through osteopathic modalities.
Osteopathy can also be adopted to treat baby or child health problems like ear infections, infantile colic, newborn checkup, behavioral problems, asthma or chest infections, aches and pains, and others. Pregnant women can also take advantage of osteopathic treatments to improve their health and wellness.
Conditions and Patients Treated with Cranial Osteopathy
Osteopaths treat people and not their condition. The professionals focus on identifying the conditions from which each patient suffers and implementing health management solutions that address the root of the problem. Cranial osteopathy can be used for treating babies, children, adults, and the elderly. The focus of cranial osteopathy is whole-body improvement and is used to address pain and discomfort affecting all parts of the body. With cranial osteopathy, patients will enjoy treatment for headaches and migraines, fatigue, asthma and other respiratory-related conditions, and more.
What Does Cranial Osteopathy Feel like?
Cranial osteopathic treatments are often gentle and subtle. Patients will enjoy a relaxing approach that addresses their health and wellness needs. Patients may be aware of the different associated sensations during the treatment. Some of the common sensations include aching, mild tension, a feeling of warmth, and more.