Osteopathic Manual Therapy: What is it?
Osteopathy is a gentle, hands-on treatment that seeks to bring the body back into alignment my addressing joint, muscular and fascial restrictions, improving fluid circulation and promoting healing. It looks at the body in unison- everything is connected- instead of focusing on individual 'problems' within the body. The osteopathic manual practitioner looks for the true cause of the symptoms for longer lasting results. Let's have a deeper look.
Think of Your Body Like a Houseplant
Osteopathic philosophy teaches that the body has an inherent ability to self-regulate and heal. However, injury, repetitive strain, stress, and everyday demands can create restrictions in range of motion, blood and nerve pathways and organ position that can hinder the body's ability to regulate.
Think of a wilting houseplant. A gardener can move it toward the sunlight, give it water, and improve its environment—but the gardener doesn't perform photosynthesis. The plant does that itself.
The gardener simply creates the right conditions for the plant to thrive, but the plant knows what to do.
Osteopathy follows a similar philosophy: the practitioner uses gentle, manual techniques to improve mobiliy and reduce restricitons, helping create better conditions for the body to heal. The practitioner facilitates change, while the body's natural ability to heal takes over.
Cause & Effect
Osteopathy looks beyond where symptoms appear to consider why they may be occurring- finding the root cause.
Think of it like a house: if the foundation is uneven, fixing a crooked window alone is pointless without first addressing the base of the house.
The pelvis is like the foundation of a house. If it is not moving or positioned optimally, the body may compensate above and below it to maintain balance. Over time, these adaptations—especially when combined with repetitive movements—may contribute to tension, restriction, or symptoms elsewhere in the body.
Rather than focusing only on the 'problem area' individually, the practitioner considers how the body is functioning as a whole and looks for factors that may be contributing to the problem. That's why a sore shoulder complaint might start with adjustment of the pelvis.
A Layered Approach
Osteopathy is especially gentle and thorough as it uses a layered approach. The practitioner begins by working through the fascia before moving deeper into the muscles, then to the joints, and to the organic layer (if necessary).
This likely takes place over the course of a multi-treatment plan developed especially for you by your practitioner. This process ensures that treatments are not too taxing on the nervous system, that nothing is treated unnecessarily and that no stone is left unturned in the hunt for the true cause.
This layered approach prevents the need for high velocity adjustments or 'cracks'.
Who Can benefit?
Just about everyone! Whether you have a desk job or a physically demanding job, have a chronic injury or are just looking for a check up, osteopathic manual therapy can likely benefit you. If you have any specific questions, please Contact Us to set up a complimentary virtual meet and greet or Book an Initial Appointment!
