What is Osteopathy?

The human body’s natural state is one of health, but when it does get a little out of sorts, it does have the ability to heal itself, as long as it has the optimal conditions to do so. Osteopathy aims to create the optimal conditions for health and wellbeing by removing barriers to good health – they could be structural, poor posture or a range of lifestyle factors.

Developed in the late 19th century by American physician Andrew Taylor Still, osteopathy has since gained popularity around the world due its efficacy. In Australia, osteopaths study for five years at university, and are considered primary healthcare practitioners.

Gentle treatment

Osteopathy is a holistic discipline that focuses on how the skeleton, joints, muscles, nerves, circulation, connective tissue and internal organs function as a whole.

Osteopathy treatments use a range of gentle manual techniques including soft tissue work, stretching and manipulation of the skeleton and muscles to promote mobility and balance. Only when the bones, joints and muscles are working smoothly and harmoniously can the other systems of the body (the nervous, circulatory, and lymphatic systems) function at their best. The gentle techniques have a calming and balancing effect on the nervous system – you may notice a feeling of relaxation after a treatment.

Osteopathy treats of a wide variety of musculo-skeletal problems, but may also play a role in managing other conditions. The most common complaints for people usually consult osteopaths about include:

• Back and neck pain
• Sciatica
• Headaches
• Pains in joints such as shoulders, knees and ankles
  
• Work-related and repetitive strain injuries
• Sports-related injuries.
  

You may also find an osteopathic treatment good for conditions like asthma, endometriosis, or circulation issues. Pregnant or post-natal women may find osteopathy a good option to help with back pain, prepare the body for childbirth and get things back into alignment after the birth. 

Osteopathy Encourages You to Take Responsibility for Your Own Wellbeing

Osteopathy encourages you to be accountable for your own health and wellbeing, not just while you are suffering pain or discomfort, but over the long term. As a holistic practitioner, an osteopath may help you discover what could be contributing to your disorder – whether it’s caused by your lifestyle or other factors in your environment. An osteopath might formulate a range of treatments, which could include tailored exercise routines or relaxation techniques or simply asking you to check in on your body to gain awareness of how to move the body in gentler ways – all with the aim of helping your body heal itself.