Osteopathy Manual Practice
Osteopathy Manual Practice:
Is based on principles developed by Dr. A.T. Still (1828-1917) when he suffered the misfortune of losing 3 children to illness. His frustration with allopathic medicine pushed him to look beyond and investigate natural, non invasive manual techniques based on understandings of anatomy and principals of health. Osteopathy Manual Therapy's development was contributed to by the curiosity and dedication of many other practitioners in the years to follow, such as William Garner Sutherland, D.O. (1873-1954) and Viola Frymann, D.O. (1921-2016).
Who becomes an Osteopathic Practitioner:
Canadian School of Osteopathy accepts applicants with university degrees in science and or practitioners from other modalities of manual therapy, such as massage therapy, physical therapy, somatic educators, athletic therapists, etc.
In Canada Osteopathic Practitioners are not physicians and do not diagnose medical conditions.
Osteopathic Practitioners go through 5 years of course work and a thesis research study to develop their palpation skills and understanding of osteopathic principles. They learn to assess the body in its' functioning and consider the individuals' case history when building an appropriate methodology for treatment. In follow up visits Osteopathic Practitioners then question the response of the person to the techniques and treatment to understand if proper strategies were used to improve symptoms. Strategies or techniques styles would then continue or shift accordingly.
Please note: At times, when certain symptoms are present, the osteopathic practitioner may ask that you consult physician prior to treatment if you have not done so.
Who gets osteopathic treatment?
People experiencing pain, chronic or acute. Joint pain or other kinds of pain, for example headaches, TMJ, dysmenorrhea (menstrual pain) etc.
People experiencing other kinds of dysfunction also seek osteopathic intervention: Bloating, acid reflux, brain fog, vestibular difficulties, tinnitus, postpartum depression, fertility issues, insomnia, urinary urgency, pelvis congestion, concussion symptoms (there is a mandatory waiting period prior to treatment), autoimmune disease.
What to wear to a treatment:
Wear comfortable clothes or bring a pair of shorts and shirt that don't restrict your movement.
How long is a treatment:
Generally osteopathic treatments are any where between 45 minutes and an hour and a half.
What to expect:
You will go through an osteopathic assessment which involves the practitioner looking at certain movements in standing, sitting and in lying. The practitioner will place their hands on the body to investigate certain relationships of movement (biomechanics, facial, fluidic, CNS). Based on the osteopathic findings and case history the practitioner choses a strategy they find appropriate.
After the treatment you can expect to feel relaxed and perhaps sense a shift awareness of your body in space. You may have a reduction in symptoms. At time there are aches and pain that can be present post treatment, always in follow up treatments let your practitioner know. If there is an aggravation of symptoms for more that 2 days, contact the practitioner.