Osteopathy

The Alternative Therapy Known as Osteopathy

Introduction:

Majority of people around the world suffer neck pains once in a while in their life. The causes of neck pain can differ from muscle strain and poor posture to dangerous condition such as spinal cancer or meningitis. The stress tightens the neck muscles leading to pains. Osteopathic touching skills can be employed to treat nerve or injury compression related pains. Some of the common causes of neck pains include spinal canal narrowing, osteoporosis, spondylitis, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, worn joints, bone spurs and stiffened disks.

Osteopathic Home Remedies

• Ice packs can be applied on the neck after around 2 days.
• After using the ice for few days, you can change to heat by using warm showers and heating pads to relieve the pain on the neck.
• Non-steroidal and anti-inflammatory painkillers can also reduce the neck pains such as naproxen, aspirin, brufen and acetaminophen.
• Gentle and thorough massage on the paining area can significantly reduce the stress.
• Maintaining a straight posture can enhance healing of the neck. You should avoid straining the head when using a computer. It is also appropriate to sit on a chair that facilitates good posture. Keep the computer monitor at the eye’s level.
• Take regular breaks when sitting as it could strain the neck hence accelerating the pain.
• It is always recommended that you sleep on a flat and firm mattress. The condition may require that you abandon the pillow or use cervical pillow in order to control the neck pain.
• Exercises that focus on strengthening the neck are necessary as they improve motion range and loosen tight muscles.

Types of Osteopathy

Cranial Osteopathy

It was discovered in 1930 by an American osteopath called Graham Sutherland. He assumed that the skull had some flexibility despite a common medical analysis that it became inflexible when someone reached adulthood. He concluded that the dural membrane that encloses the cerebrospinal fluid and pushes it to the spine as well as cranial bones becomes inflexible when a person goes through fall, injuries or birth trauma. He elaborated that that this particular condition would interrupt cerebrospinal fluid flow, blood and lymph circulation and absorption of sinus fluids in the head. He also believed that the interruption may restrict normal bending and movement of the spine. Sutherland thought that rhythmic pulsation of the cerebrospinal fluid which occurs around 15 times every minute can be sensed by touches. Recent studies have suggested that the cerebrospinal fluid pulsation continue for some few minutes even after death. He invented some skills to gauge the quality and movement of cranial rhythm to release tension and bring back balance.

Many people do not experience pain when undergoing such medical treatment. They feel relaxed and normal. The osteopath should therefore possess high level skill and accurate sense of touch. The training of a cranial osteopath is geared towards sensing the cranial rhythm difference. The lack of scientific and medical backing on cranial osteopathy makes it to be contested by some other osteopaths. However, it is being studied by current osteopaths especially those specializing on treatment for infant and young children. It’s also applicable to pre mature orphans who normally suffer digestive and respiratory problems, back pain, headaches, teething, colic, sleeping and ear problems.

Pediatric Osteopathy

It employs a number of skills to treat newborn and young babies. It was discovered by a British osteopath called Stuart Korth. He offered extensive training to qualified osteopaths on pediatric osteopathy and founded Osteopathic Center for Children (OCC) in London and Manchester for treating pregnant women, teenagers, children and infants. OCC has built a reputation on treatment of premature babies and children having cerebral palsy. Various children diseases can also be treated with pediatric osteopath such as growing pains, epilepsy, sleeplessness, colic, teething, asthma and ear infections.

Visceral Osteopathy

Viscera are described as the soft internal organs of the body such as digestive organs, reproductive organs, lungs and heart. The principles of visceral osteopathy were developed by Jean Pierre Barral. He found out that the stress pattern within the soft body tissues and the way proper osteopathic skills could be used to loosen them. Barral came up with a system of gentle touch of the soft internal body organs and tissues around them to treat the sensed patterns of stress. He thought that the visceral osteopathic treatment can lead to efficient body function, mobility, general strength, fluid circulation and organ system function. He also devised a thermal diagnosis machine to detect tension areas in the body by use of heat degree variation. The training center on visceral skills established in United States by Barral has trained many osteopaths. Visceral osteopathy can be essential to people after illness like bladder infection, trauma, surgery, pregnancy and injury.

Cranio Sacral Therapy

Any person who is non-osteopath can be trained to practice cranio sacral therapy after a very short duration. It was discovered by an American osteopath called Dr. John Upledger. He researched on the key functions of spine central cord and membranes surrounding the brain. Conceptualizing the functions of cranial rhythmic pulse and cerebrospinal fluid in the spinal cord and skull, he discovered that they may interrupt functions of all the cells in the human body. John invented a procedure of applying gentle pressure on the cranium or sacrum in order to release tension in the membranes while facilitating unrestricted and smooth flow of cerebrospinal fluid. Although this method has no scientific backing, many patients have found the treatment relaxing and beneficial.

Closing Thoughts

The osteopathic medicine can be used to treat regular pains without classifying the symptoms of each illness. Its popularity has grown especially to people suffering from joint and muscle pains. However the osteopath can employ different techniques to ease the pains. Counter-strain is a technique often used by osteopaths to move you into a strategic position that will enable the body to to reactivate motion of the strained muscles. He can also apply soft tissue technique to put pressure targeting muscles around the spine. The pressure may be deep, involve rhythmic stretching or traction.