Osteopathic treatment

Osteopathic treatment may relieve acute and chronic pain, stiffness and other symptoms and restore function by improving range of motion; reducing fibrosis and adhesion; remodeling tissue architecture; stimulating tissue regeneration; and by improving blood supply, lymphatic flow and nerve activity. 

Osteopaths use a wide range of techniques, taking into consideration safety, the presenting condition and patient preferences.

These include:

• Soft tissue manipulation - as a vast majority of complaints involve soft tissues, including muscle, tendon, ligament and cartilage, soft tissue manipulation is often an important part of treatment.

• Stretching - applied to increase flexibility of stiff soft tissues.

• Joint mobilisation - gentle rhythmic movement of joints to improve their range of motion.

• Functional Technique - where a dysfunctional joint and associated tissue is placed into their preferred "abnormal" working position, and then eased back into their "normal" working position.

• Muscle Energy Technique (MET) - muscle spasm or shortening and associated joint restriction are gently released by working against resistance and then incrementally stretched during relaxation. 

• Strain Counter-Strain technique (SCS) - blood flow and nerve activity is improved by placing the target tissue in a position of ease. 

• Joint manipulation - joint alignment and function is improved with the use of a precise fast short thrust to a specific joint.

• Cranial manipulation - specific release of cranial structures and improving cranial function using gentle Osteopathic manipulation.

• Visceral manipulation - gentle Osteopathic manipulation of specific viscera (internal organs) and their connective tissues to encourage their normal mobility, tone and function.