Osteopathy
What is Osteopathy?
Osteopathy is a consolidated health care system that is based on manual contact for the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of various diseases.
It does not replace the figure of the general practitioner, but collaborates with various health professionals.
It is a form of assistance focused on the health of the person rather than on the disease; uses a causal and non-symptomatic approach (often in fact the cause of the pain finds its location far from the painful area), looking for the functional alterations of the body that lead to the manifestation of signs, symptoms and pains of various kinds.
Osteopathy is a manual treatment method based on anatomical and physiological knowledge of traditional medicine.
It does not involve the use of drugs. but uses specific manipulations and maneuvers for each body district.
The Osteopathic concept consists of some key principles that are still in use:
- The human being is a dynamic unit of functions whose state of health is determined by the body, mind and spirit
- The body has self-regulation and self-healing mechanisms
- Structure and function are mutually interrelated
Rational therapy is based on the application of all three principles.
Its therapeutic value, in addition to being testified by the patients themselves, is demonstrated by the evidence that emerged from scientific research.
What the Osteopath is meant to do:
The osteopath arrives at an Osteopathic Diagnosis based on static and dynamic postural analysis.
This through active and passive tests, using perceptual palpation, detecting functional alterations related to allostatic overload (ie the excessive or insufficient activation of the mechanisms of adaptation and stabilisation of the organism to external stimuli).
But also the possible presence of somatic dysfunctions (ie alterations of the mechanisms that allow the maintenance of the state of health following stressful" insults “).
The osteopath will then plan the treatment and perform it with the selected manipulative techniques.
Finally, the osteopath records the treatments performed in the osteopathic record and evaluates the results of the treatment, with osteopathic tests and clinical findings, sharing with the patient its possible continuation.
Timings
The examination consists of:
anamnesis: interview about disconfort and medical history,
observation: to evaluate the “ground” of the complaint,
tests: to seek what cause and what maintain the pain,
treatment: to unlock and mobilize the structures related to the pain results: summary of findings and advices to maintain the tratment.
Therefore the sessions vary in duration, from 20 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the situation and the kind of discomfort. The interval between sessions is variable, on average 2 weeks. In acute cases it may be necessary to see the patient within a few days.
The interval between the sessions and the number of treatments to be done is completely individual and depends on the assessments made during the first visit.
The sessions cannot be too close together to allow time for the body to react to the treatment, with the exception of situations of particularly acute and violent pain.
- In some cases, a temporary worsening of symptoms may occur after the osteopathic session, sometimes a sense of fatigue or widespread pain.
They are reactions of the body to the treatment and are not to be considered in a negative sense.
After these symptoms there is an overall improvement.
- It is advisable not to carry out any physical activity immediately after the treatment.
- To simplify the visit, if possible, bring a change of clothes.
Top and shorts will be appreciated.