Osteopathy is a non-invasive, manual, medical practice that focuses on total body health. As such, Manual Osteopaths treat the body as a large, inter-connected system of tissues, instead of focusing on one system within the unit.
Manual Osteopaths assess and identify dysfunction of the soft-tissues, joints, viscera and cranium, and treat the systems involved to facilitate their re-balance using gentle techniques—no high velocity movements and little risk of tissue damage!
By efficiently working with all the systems of the body in a single session with one therapist, clients often experience faster relief and require fewer treatments than traditional approaches.
The five areas of Osteopathic treatments are: Cranial Osteopathy, Osteo-Articular Adjustment, Visceral Osteopathy, Myofascial Release, Muscle Energy Technique (Strain/Counterstrain)
Osteopathic treatment can help people with: General and specific back and neck pain, sports injuries, frozen shoulder, carpal tunnel, joint problems, headaches and migraines, structural misalignment, pregnancy issues, whiplash, scoliosis, and many cases of unexplained or medically undiagnosed pain.
FAQs:
Do I need a Dr’s referral to see a Manual Osteopath?
No, you do not need a referral to have an appointment with an Osteopath.
Is Manual Osteopathy covered by my insurance company?
Yes, Manual Osteopathy is covered by most insurance policies, along with Chiropractics, Physiotherapy and Massage Therapy. Check with your insurance company to find out if you are covered!
Is Manual Osteopathy regulated?
No, it is not regulated anywhere in Canada, and is governed only by the insurance companies and association’s required to work as a practitioner.
What can Osteopathy help me with?
Osteopathy is best used for rehabilitation and ‘problem fixing’. If there is a dysfunction in the body’s structural or soft tissues, it is likely a Manual Osteopath can help facilitate natural function.
What is the difference between Osteopathy and Chiropractics or Massage?
Generally, Chiropractics and Massage both focus on and treat single planes/systems of the body, whereas Osteopathy focuses on all the systems—bone and joint, muscle, fascia and other soft tissues, organ motility, and craniosacral movement. Working the body this way, instead of dancing between therapists and sessions, patients usually require fewer treatments and less time to recover!
What should I expect from my session?
The first session is usually a little longer to allow adequate time patient-therapist discussion. It will always begin with a complete health history and discussion of the problem and goals with the patient, full assessment, treatment plans and expectations from the therapist, and the first step in the treatment.
Ongoing sessions will likely be shorter, depending on the number of problems and systems of the body to address, with time spent reassessing, discussing and treating. The patient may be asked to take articles of clothing o? for better assessment at any of the visits, depending on the problem areas.
Is there anything I should bring to my session?
There is nothing required for the first visit, and usually any subsequent visit unless specified. It is requested that the patient wears comfortable, unrestricted clothes they can move in.
What should I expect from an Osteopathic adjustment?
Unlike Chiropractic adjustments, Osteopathic adjustments are soft and require little force—meaning no high velocity movements, little pain and few ‘cracks’. The patient is in complete control of the contraction that allows for the adjustment. The patient may feel a mild stretch when the practitioner sets them in the proper position. Sometimes there is a sensation of movement when structures realign, but often it is too subtle to feel or hear.
What is the difference between a Medical Osteopath and a Manual Osteopath?
A Medical Osteopath is a medical physician, allowed to prescribe medications, order required laboratory or diagnostic procedures and perform surgery, and must be trained in one of the 29 Osteopathic Medical Schools in the US only. Both Manual and Medical Osteopaths are trained to balance and adjust the body, to help overcome dysfunction and illness.
Links to Osteopathic Pages:
National Manual Osteopathic Society (Association) located in Central Alberta. www.nmos.ca
National Manual Osteopathic College www.nmoc.ca
World Health Organization: Benchmark for training in Osteopathy
