What is Osteopathy and what Role it Plays in Our Overall Well-being?

Osteopathy can be referred to as a whole body treatment which focuses largely on the maxim, “prevention is better than cure”. This branch of health was discovered by Dr. Andrew Taylor in 1800’s. Osteopathy considers the whole body as a single unit where each part is impacted by the other. It is helpful in treating medical ailments such as bone, and muscle pains and rejuvenation of complete body systems. One of the best things about this treatment is that it a non-invasive treatment (without the usage of drugs) which works specifically on strengthening musculoskeletal framework. One of the prime aims of this branch of medicine is to enhance overall functioning of the body.

As osteopathic medicine is a healthcare system, which has found different uses and applications. People usually seek assistance from an osteopath to get relief from pains, strains, aches, sprains, headaches and other common musculoskeletal problems. There are a number of evaluations and manual treatment approaches available today which ensure that various health problems can be addressed successfully with the help of osteopathic manipulation. People have found great relief from a number of following health conditions after undergoing this treatment. To list a few are:

• Asthma
• Arthritis
• Degenerative disc and joint disease
• Bell's palsy
• Epilepsy
• Autism
• Fibromyalgia
• Migraines
• Pregnancy and childbirth
• TMJ
• Ear infections
• Tendonitis
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Pain
• Reflux

Osteopathic treatment is highly effective in reducing pain, and stiffness in the body (muscles and joints specifically). It is also helpful in increasing the range of motion in joints and treats spinal problems that are a result of disc injuries/ herniation or poor posture.

The treatment is highly effective for pregnant women too because it reduces the labour and pain, a woman undergoes during childbirth. Studies have shown, that certain conditions may arise during pregnancy which if not looked after properly can lead to complications among new mothers. It can cause excessive back pain, irregular periods and constipation.

Your body has the capacity to heal itself if you suffer from injury. However, in some cases, the injury can be acute, much more than the body’s natural ability to heal it. There can be several reasons for this inability and sometimes even the minor injuries can lead to major problems. Hence, it becomes necessary for an individual to take external help to be able to strengthen the weakened parts of the body and regain vitality. And, this is the main function of osteopathy treatment: to help your body regain strength so that it can function well.

Osteopathy works on following fundamentals, it is necessary to understand them to know about the true essence of what the treatment has to offer:

• All body parts are interconnected with each other.
• As the body is a single unit, the function of one part is dependent on the other part.
• Proper blood circulation is very important for the body to be able to perform well.

Osteopathic treatment is low impact compared to other forms of the massage therapies because a lighter approach is brought to use. Moreover, the osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) increases the lymph flow and hence can reduce psychological and emotional stress, thus protecting individuals from a higher risk of upper respiratory tract infections.

Osteopathy plays a significant role in sports today. It helps in detecting, treating and preventing health problems of an individual by increasing the body function. It is particularly done by moving, stretching and massaging one’s muscles and joints.

It is a fact that ones' body and structure can be affected by connections and fiscal attachments. Abdominal as well as thoracic organs are more vulnerable to injuries because they have soft walls and fluidic contents. Individuals who lift heavy weights are more likely to suffer injuries because of carrying excessive weight. Some of the most common injuries that can be caused due to excessive weight are tennis elbow, tendinopathies and low back injuries.

It is very important for a person who gets training in lifting weights to maintain right balance and have strength so that he can derive maximum benefits from training. There are several sports training programs which are designed for identifying muscle weaknesses and imbalances. Osteopathy helps in balancing the alignment of body, it is also helpful in improving the joint range of motion and in decreasing the build up of lactic acid which is a result of over training. Osteopathy is the best mode of treatment for injured sports persons to get back to their routine. It also reduces the process of slowing down of muscle mass, thus leaving the person stronger and healthier. Hence, it is effective in the reduction of body fat and keeping you fit and fine always. Not only this, the chances of wear and tear of tissues goes down considerably, lowering down the chances of diseases such as osteoarthritis.

If you are suffering from any injuries, chronic body pain or have post-pregnancy problems, get in touch with an osteopath and discuss your condition. Some osteopaths use OMT in their training and practice. It helps them to diagnose and treat the injuries, pains, sprains, strains and other muscle-skeletal issues.