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Complementary Medicine: Treatment & Therapies

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Osteopathy
By Joyce Vetterlein, MGOCR, DO, Grad.Dip.Pharm., M.Sc.

Osteopathy involves looking at the structure of the body and its ability to move, and, where appropriate, giving treatment to it with the hands.

Osteopathy began towards the end of the nineteenth century in the USA as a reaction to the orthodox medical treatment of serious infectious illnesses. ith improvements in public health, and the development of vaccines and antibiotics, osteopathy became more associated with the treatment of musculoskeletal problems. The rise of wholistic medicine over the last twenty years has seen the osteopath once again working in a far more general way, treating both the causes and effects of ill health and encouraging the prevention of illness.

Since May 2000 all osteopaths in the UK have to be registered with the General Osteopathic Council, a body set up under the Osteopaths Act (1994), to ensure high standards of training and practice.

Osteopaths are trained as primary health care practitioners, which means patients do not need to be referred by their GPs (unless required to by a private medical insurance company). At the first consultation the osteopath will take a full case history from the patient inquiring not just about the present problem but about their general health and past medical history. The examination includes observing the patient standing, sitting and moving, and assessing how they carry their body and how well it moves. More detailed examination may be made of particular areas in trouble. When appropriate, abdominal, cardiovascular, respiratory neurological (etc.) examinations may be done. Blood and urine tests may be ordered and occasionally x-rays. Once a diagnosis
has been made, if it is felt that the patient would benefit from osteopathic treatment, a treatment plan and prognosis is discussed. If osteopathic treatment is not appropriate, the patient may be referred to another complementary practitioner or to the GP.

Anyone with a condition that produces changes in the structure-function relationship of the body can be treated osteopathically. Treatment can consist of gentle kneading and stretching of soft tissues, rhythmical passive movement of joints, and, often, work with very small intrinsic movements of the body. Sometimes joints are freed up quickly with small amplitude thrust techniques. Often general advice is given as to exercise regimes, diet, posture etc. and as to how other therapies may aid recovery.

Recently the term "cranial osteopathy" has been used for very gentle forms of osteopathic treatment. This is not a separate discipline as the same principles apply as to other osteopathic approaches. Because this form of treatment works with small movements within the patient's body, it can be used to treat the head (hence the name). It is the approach most appropriate to treating babies and children but has far wider uses, particularly where chronic patterns of dysfunction have set in.

COMMON QUESTIONS

Q What sort of conditions can osteopathy help?

A. Anything that causes problems with the structure of the body. For example, asthma causes changes in posture, rib and spinal movement and the tone of the diaphragm. These changes lead in turn to additional stress on breathing, alterations in the nerve and blood supply to the lungs and general fatigue. In time this can undermine general health and exacerbate the asthma.

Q Could you give some examples of the conditions that osteopathy can treat?

A. Osteopathy is effective in treating musculoskeletal conditions such as low back pain, sciatica, tension in the neck, frozen shoulder, tenosynovitis, scoliosis, tennis elbow, osteoarthritis, sports injuries etc, as well as helping other conditions that can have a structural component such as migraine, sinusitis, painful periods, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic middle ear infections, bronchitis, hiatus hernia etc.

Q What is the difference between osteopathy and chiropractic?

A. Very little. Both disciplines have the same underlying principles. The main differences are in technique. Osteopaths use more manual soft tissue and rhythmical movement techniques. Chiropractors use a treatment table that is more sprung than those used by most osteopaths allowing a different range of techniques to be applied. Most osteopaths have chiropractic techniques in their repertoire and vice versa. Both professions are now regulated by statute ensuring high standards of training and practice, and better protection to patients.

Q How soon can my baby be examined by an osteopath?

A. Ideally the mother should have been seen by an osteopath during pregnancy. This ensures that many of the structural problems than can make pregnancy uncomfortable and the delivery difficult can be addressed in time. After the birth mother and baby should be examined and, where appropriate, treated as soon as possible. Some hospitals have osteopaths available on the staff; most welcome visiting practitioners. Even normal deliveries can cause mechanical stress to the baby. Gentle treatment can help resolve these strains which could lead to problems in the future.

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