Osteopathy is a therapeutic discipline, a type of alternative medicine. It aims to correct the imbalances that occur in our body from a holistic point of view, in which the different parts of our body are interrelated.
It is based on the principle that our body has all the necessary means for its own healing, it is simply necessary to recover the lost body balance and release the blocked structures. Practitioners of osteopathy are osteopaths.
Role of the osteopath
The osteopath applies various manipulative techniques, which can affect the musculoskeletal structures, the skull and the viscera.
The osteopath must thoroughly assess the patient’s clinical situation and then in practice he only has one tool: his hands! Although it seems little, however, it is capable of doing much thanks to a wide range of manipulative techniques.
Origins and foundations of Osteopathy
Osteopathy is a physical therapeutic science based on the precise knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of the human body. It aims at adjusting or correcting the imbalances that interfere with the proper functioning of the body. Osteopathy means studying, assessing, hearing and understanding the body.
The word osteopathy comes from ancient greek “bone” and “sensitive to” or “responding to”, which can give us an idea that osteopathy is not a therapy that only treats joint problems, but that with them a relationship with other areas that are going to be able to improve, even if they are not in it or in areas close to the lesion.
Techniques applied in Osteopathy
The osteopath must thoroughly assess the patient’s clinical situation and then in practice he only has one tool: his hands! Although it seems little, however, it is capable of doing much thanks to a wide range of manipulative techniques.
High speed and low amplitude techniques, the known Thrust
are the best known techniques, the basic concept is to bring the joint near its limit and print a very small movement, allowing the phenomenon of cavitation (cracking). This determines a decrease in the tone of the border muscles and a feeling of joint release from the patient.
Muscle energy techniques (METs)
It is a modality that exploits the neurological function and strength of the patient. It allows to restore the symmetry of the movement of a joint. In short, using a correct positioning of the joint and requiring the patient a certain muscle contraction, the osteopath slowly corrects the neutral joint point.
Joint and soft tissue techniques
They are the simplest modalities, generally used as preparatory to Thrust or MET. Also in this case we have a wide range of techniques to manipulate soft tissues. They aim to reduce tone and mobilize joints, to start introducing movement parameters.
Functional techniques
If, with the modalities seen above, the system was forced against its limitations of movement, with these techniques we favor it. There are scientific studies that show how, putting for example a joint in its neutral point and maintaining this position, after a certain time, the surrounding muscle tone tends to decrease.
At the London Spine Unit, we have some of the best specialists in osteopathy. Book an appointment to get a checkup.
You might also want to read:
What is the difference between physiotherapy and osteopathy?
What is osteopathy?
Osteopathy is a therapeutic discipline, a type of alternative medicine. It aims to correct the imbalances that occur in our body from a holistic point of view, in which the different parts of our body are interrelated.
What is the role of the osteopath?
The osteopath applies various manipulative techniques, which can affect the musculoskeletal structures, the skull and the viscera. The osteopath must thoroughly assess the patient's clinical situation and then in practice he only has one tool: his hands! Although it seems little, however, it is capable of doing much thanks to a wide range of manipulative techniques.
What is muscle energy techniques (METs)?
It is a modality that exploits the neurological function and strength of the patient. It allows to restore the symmetry of the movement of a joint. In short, using a correct positioning of the joint and requiring the patient a certain muscle contraction, the osteopath slowly corrects the neutral joint point.
What is joint and soft tissue techniques?
They are the simplest modalities, generally used as preparatory to Thrust or MET. Also in this case we have a wide range of techniques to manipulate soft tissues. They aim to reduce tone and mobilize joints, to start introducing movement parameters.
What are functional techniques?
There are scientific studies that show how, putting for example a joint in its neutral point and maintaining this position, after a certain time, the surrounding muscle tone tends to decrease.
