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Osteopathy |
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Current philosophies of Osteopathic Medicine:
- The body is a unit
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Implicit in these philosophies is that osteopathic intervention can have a positive influence on all of the above. Osteopathy combines scientific knowledge of anatomy, physiology, pathology and clinical methods of investigation and you are always seen by a qualified osteopath who has completed a full time degree programme in osteopathic medicine.
Osteopathic medicine places
importance in correcting musculo-skeletal movement and blood flow in the
human body to increase the body’s response to disease or injury. A
lesion at any of the joints of the spine will influence the use of the
muscles of the body either in the short term or long term leading to
chronic conditions. Any restrictions in these spinal joints of the back
will affect the nerve impulses and blood flow in the area of the body
affected by that joint even the organs e.g. heart, lungs, kidneys,
intestines etc. If there is a lesion at a joint or several joints, the
nerve supply and thereby the flow of nutrients via the arteries will not
be at an optimum. This affects the organs and muscle tissues at the same
spinal level and undermines their normal function making them weaker and
prone to injury or disease. Osteopaths like to treat patients as a
‘whole’, and hold the holistic belief that the body functions as a unit.
Therefore other areas of the body that may be the primary cause of the
symptoms are frequently looked at rather than just the painful area in
isolation. Instead of the use of drugs osteopaths use their palpatory
skills and manual techniques to discover the underlying causes of pain
and to carry out treatment.
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Treatments are highly individual to each patient but often involve a
variety of techniques including soft tissue techniques, deep tissue
treatments, gentle passive joint mobilization, high velocity thrust
joint manipulation and rhythmic harmonic techniques. Also nutritional,
postural, ergonomic, hydrotherapy and exercise advice is given. First
contact with the osteopath before treatment of a patient commences is an
initial consultation, which includes taking a detailed medical history
followed by a thorough physical examination. This will involve an
analysis of body patterns and identification of areas of restriction and
weakness. Patient’s posture will also be examined; the way in which the
patient moves to detect any restriction or exaggeration in movement in
any particular area. A detailed examination of the spine will be made,
looking for tenderness, stiffness or displacement and the particular
movement of each individual vertebra. The osteopath may also recommend,
if necessary, further tests, such as X-rays, MRI, blood or urine tests,
to help reach an accurate diagnosis. If osteopathic treatment is not
suitable then appropriate referrals will be made. Having made the
diagnosis and established the predisposing and maintaining causes of the
presenting complaint, the osteopath will begin treatment, assuming that
it is advisable and safe to do so. The purpose of treatment is to
balance the spine and any tensions around it, as well as balancing
stresses in any other structures. By this approach it is possible to
normalize the movement of all structures of the body, to decrease the
inflammation and swellings, and to reduce any irritations of the nervous
system, and disturbances of the circulation. |
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Aim Of the Osteopath !!!
Back Pain / Leg Pain
(Sciatica) / Slipped Discs / 'Trapped Nerves' OsteoMedica offers specific clinics to the patients such as Sports Injuries Clinic, Children Clinic, Expectant Mothers Clinic and the Elderly clinic. Cranial Osteopathy is also offered.
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