FAQ

Osteopathy takes its roots in the United States from Dr. Andrew Taylor Still. After working as a field doctor during the Civil War in the early 1860's, Dr. Still returned to his rural life where he developed specific techniques that would help create a balance between the patients anatomy and physiology and thus effecting a change in the overall health of the patient. At the grass roots, these techniques involved muskulo-skeletal manipulations which helped ensure overall function of the human body.

In his later years, he opened a school offering a 3 years program based on his experience and techniques. Though this school, brilliant minds were formed as well as techniques which complimented osteopathy including cranial sacral techniques by William Sutherland, strain-counterstain techniques, visceral manipulations and so on.

Osteopaths work with 7 different health mechanisms. As the name would suggest, one of the health mechanisms that we assess is the bone structure. An osteopath will assess the bone structure in order to assess how an imbalance in this structure will affect surrounding organs or nerve conductivity, or how an organ can have an impact on the bone structure based on visceral attachments and fascia.

Other health mechanisms include, visceral, which is the study of organs and how they also play a part in affecting structure as well as the fascia mechanism and how it can alter biomechanic movement. An adhesion in the fascia of the body can have a global effect on the entire body.

Osteopaths also treat the central nervous system through cranial sacral techniques. Osteopaths have techniques that can either relax and inhibit nerve conductivity creating homeostasis during times when your system is in a fight-or-flight response or during times of high anxiety and high stress. We can also stimulate the nervous system in order to help create a balanced nervous system which will have a positive effect on the cardiac system and digestive system.

As a whole, osteopathy is the study of human physiology, via structure, nervous system, organs, fascia as well as lymph and blood flow. In a treatment, based on the patients needs, osteopaths will switch back and forth between all of these elements in order to create a balance, thus treating the root cause of the issue.

Frequently asked questions

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There are many similarities with some of the techniques that osteopaths use and those of chiropractors. Some similarity include high velocity manipulations. Chiropractics tend to use high velocity manipulations as a regular part of their practice in order to affect a change in joints and structure.

Osteopaths also use these manipulations but sparingly. We tend to use other techniques that work just as effectively. In my practice, I tend to use muscle energy techniques. These techniques were developed by an American osteopath by the name of Fred Mitchell, D.O. These techniques use the patient's muscle contractions in order to move a bone or organ back into its physiological position. The first 2 years of my schooling were spent learning muscle energy techniques, reciprocal tensioning, strain and counterstain, joint mobilization thought general osteopathic techniques as well as learning those high velocity manipulation that are commonly associated with chiropractics.

Another distinct difference between both professions is the treatment of viscera, or organs. Osteopaths tend to treat many elements beyond simple structure. As an example, often people with lower back pain actually suffer from an organ that is not in a physiological position. This organ in turn can pull on the spinal segments, cause a compressive effect on nerves in the area and thus causing lower back pain. This viscera can also cause compressive effects on surrounding blood vessels which in turn can cause disfunction or oedema in other parts of the body, such as legs or the abdominal cavity.

Osteopaths use their skills and knowledge to dig deep and really find the root cause of the issue. We use global tests, then zero in with regional tests, we then use very specific testing in order to assess the root cause of a patients dysfunction.

Generally, the first treatment involves taking the patient's information, signing consent forms and taking the patient's health history. The health history that I take is pretty extensive. I want to know exactly what your body has been through so that I can better treat you. The more information I know, the better I can direct my treatment to tackle the large issues.

After the health history, the manual part of the treatment begins. This is were I will start doing global tests and directing my attention to more specific areas in order to best treat you. I ask that you bring a pair of shorts, and for females, a sports bra that doesn't have a large amount of material in the back. This way I can access your thoracic spine in order to perform my assessment. There are changing facilities available.

Subsequent treatments (if needed) will be 1 hour in length and are all very much treatment focused.

This is a difficult question to answer as everybody responds to manual practice a little differently. A large part of our training is focused on integrating treatments. This means, after I've worked on an area, I will integrate that area so that your body doesn't have a rebound effect or reject the treatment. As a general rule, patients walk out feeling relieved with a significant decrease in the amount of pain. It is possible to have discomfort for up to 48 hours after the treatment although this is seldom the case.

FAQ

What's the difference between osteopathy and chiropractic?

What can I expect from my first treatment?

What can I expect after a treatment?