Osteopathy is a therapy that includes knowledge of alternative medicine and is based on the application of manual techniques, similar to massage, to aid in the recovery, maintenance and restoration of the balance between body and mind. In applied techniques, the professional trained in this field can move the joints, muscles and nerves to relieve pain and improve the mobility of the body part.
Generally, this therapy is indicated for people who have problems such as dislocations, muscle spasms and pain in the sciatic nerve, back or shoulder, for example, and other problems in the body caused by a sedentary lifestyle, poor posture, sports or excessive injury. Stress. However, osteopathy is not indicated in people with very advanced osteoporosis and blood clotting disorders.
Osteopaths, osteopaths, apply stretching and massage techniques to improve conditions such as:
Applied techniques help improve joint movement, relieve muscle tension and improve blood circulation, so pregnant women may also be recommended to reduce symptoms of back pain and leg swelling due to belly weight.
Before starting osteopathy sessions, your professional will conduct an initial consultation during which you will collect information about health problems, family history of illness, lifestyle and eating habits and be able to assess the person’s posture and discuss whether the person has anxiety. or stress. If the osteopath identifies a serious health problem, he or she may refer a doctor, such as the orthopedist.
During sessions, the osteopath performs a series of hand movements, such as massages and stretches, to work bones, muscles, ligaments and nerves to relieve pain and restore health to the affected body part.
Treatment with osteopathy does not cause pain, however, depending on the severity of muscle or nerve damage, the person may experience mild discomfort after sessions. The osteopath does not recommend medications, but may give advice on lifestyle changes, such as diet and physical activity.
Osteopathy is not recommended for people whose bodies experience changes that cause bone fragility, such as severe osteoporosis and bone metastases, for example, as it can worsen symptoms and cause other health problems.
In addition, this treatment is not indicated in people with severe arthritis, bone fractures, disorders that affect blood clotting or who use blood thinners, such as warfarin. In addition, people with multiple sclerosis, which is an autoimmune disease characterized by an alteration of the nervous system and who may have muscle pain and weakness as a symptom, should not develop osteopathy either.
Osteopathy is often confused with the practice of chiropractic, but osteopathy is a broader type of therapy, involving several palpation treatment techniques that seek to improve muscle problems, for example by investigating the causes of pain, as well as concentrating on the balance of the body and mind as a whole.
Chiropractic, on the other hand, uses more specific techniques in acute spine pain and focuses directly on these painful areas, through more limited massage techniques, with the sole aim of aligning bones and relieving pain. Learn more about chiropractic, what it’s used for, and how it’s done.