Are you sore? Tired and decrepit?
Yes! You are!
And if you’re not you really ought to be.
But I’ll get back to that.
First off, I’d like to get into the details.
What is Manual Osteopathy?
Manual Osteopathy is one of the fastest growing physical therapies in the world today! It is the practice aimed at achieving balance across several components of the body; freeing you of pains both old and new.
What do Manual Osteopaths do?
We get the body movin’ (Beastie Boys, circa 1998). We treat imbalances and work towards achieving alignment across the whole body using a variety of techniques.
Osteoarticular adjustments are similar in intent to chiropractic adjustments. We make sure that bones line up with one another properly and move similarly. Instead of using what are referred to as “high-velocity thrust manipulations” that often make that characteristic “crack” or “pop,” manual osteopaths primarily use gentle techniques that involve recruiting your own muscles to pull the bones back in the right place.
Manual osteopaths also manipulate fascia; a connective tissue that is found surrounding and within tissues throughout your entire body. The characteristics of these tissues were only recently recognized, and ongoing research continues to reinforce the importance and therapeutic value of treating these tissues; that medical professionals previously disregarded and would promptly remove with prejudice in instances where surgery was performed. Working with this very important tissue is key to keep corrections in place and allow for reduced mobility to return to normal.
Many manual osteopaths use a variety of craniosacral or cranial sacral therapies to compliment their work. The practice of craniosacral therapy is honed into manipulation of the cerebrospinal fluid system and the articulations of the cranial bones. The technique consist of light touch to bring about corrections and are used in strategic areas from head to toe. Issues arising from imbalances in this system could manifest in numerous conditions from shortness of breath to bouts of depression. I look forward to further research in this young field of medicine and have realised subtle benefits in more than one circumstance.
The visceral component of manual osteopathy relates to manipulating the abdominal organs that have for one reason or another become stuck in the wrong place or are moving irregularly. Basically i grab you by the intestine and can tell you what you had for breakfast. Sausage McGriddle combo AND Croissanwich? Seriously?
In all seriousness, visceral manipulation is a therapy that not only pertains to the internal organs but can treat pains that manifest peripheral to the abdomen. Wow, do I sound like a dork. What I’m trying to say is that your shoulder pain might actually be caused by an issue in your liver.
Also, I don’t judge. Mcgriddle combo and a croissandwich sounds pretty awesome to me.
Will it hurt?
Noooooo…..(you believe me, right?)
As mentioned before, our osteoarticular manipulations use of the body’s own efforts to effect change. This is always to be done in the absence of pain. Assessment however can be used to replicate your pain patterns so we can better identify the issue.
Certain areas that have been under stress for a long time will require more time and more rigorous work. In these instances, your no-good therapist will jam his or her gnarled fingers into where it hurts the most and friction until you tell us where ze rebel base iz located! Or until the tenderness dies down. During these periods, I, for one, encourage the catharsis that only strings of spontaneous compound profanities can bring. Just don’t bring my mother into it. Minor pains associated with these techniques will normally resolve within a few days of treatment.
Craniosacral therapy rarely entails the use of pressure exceeding 5 grams (at regular atmospheric pressure; adjust to newtons if you must) to involved tissues and should never be painful.
Visceral manipulation is not often described as painful, but in many cases is not comfortable. For this reason we try to spend very little time here, adjusting only a few organs per visit.
Will I have to get naked?
Nah. We can do most of the treatment in the comforts of your very own clothes. Gym attire is best and helps us to be efficient in both assessment and treatment. For some aspects of treatment, we will need direct contact with your skin to be effective. When used we will keep you comfortable and properly draped.
Why did I choose manual osteopathy?
Different problems require different tools.
To chop down a tree, you don’t use a chisel; similarly you don’t sculpt a Buddha statue with an axe. I want to be able to help as many people with as many problems as I can. If massage works best that’s what I’ll use, but if something else works better, I intend to find out and use what that is.
So, why should I be sore, tired and decrepit?
Soreness and tiredness are normal aspects of an active individual (decrepit, well that was just for comedic effect [I CAN’T HELP MYSELF!]). If you’re out there enjoying an active lifestyle, you will eventually end up injuring yourself. This could resolve itself or it could lead to a pattern of movement where you avoid that thing that makes it hurt. While doing less of that thing you really liked, such as cycling, dancing, or even walking without a limp, you will start doing more of something else. When this something else is, for instance, bearing weight on your left leg because your right leg hurts, or sitting at the computer all hunched over binging 4 seasons of black mirror, new issues will often present where tissues are overworked and unbalanced. Before this becomes that and that becomes another thing, come see us to get you back to using both legs (which you like!) and get back to boxing, cycling and struttin’ yo stuff. We’ll get you back into ass-kicking shape and send you off to… well… probably just get hurt again. But we’ll be happy to welcome you back when you do!
Oh, and did I mention, if you have massage benefits, you may also have separate benefits for manual osteopathy? That’s right! Come see Meghan and I twice as often all on your employer’s dime (or mostly on your employer, or somewhat, I don’t know, check your benefits!)!