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Osteopathy Therapy - Get Away From Your Back Pain

Although many people have heard the word, few can easily answer the question, "What is osteopathy?" Terms like "cranial osteopathy" and "visceral osteopathy" are even more confusing.

In its most simple terms the osteopathy definition is "another philosophy of medicine."

In the United States Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine are fully licensed physicians but they are schooled in a philosophy of medical care that originated some 120 years ago. It emphasizes the inter-relationship of nerves, muscles, bones and organs. Through this holistic approach to health care, D.O.s combine a system of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment that blends traditional uses of drugs and surgery with manual and physical therapy methods.

Are Osteopaths and Chiropractors the Same Thing?

Both osteopathy and chiropractic treatment emphasize the benefits of manipulative physical therapy. However, in the early party of the 20th century D.O.s in the United States also began to incorporate techniques of prescription-based drug treatment and surgery into their methodology. Chiropractors, on the other hand, use only manipulative treatment methods. Outside of the United States and particularly in Britain, D.O.'s continue to be more faithful to their discipline's traditional therapeutic roots.

What are some of the Techniques of Osteopathic Manual Medicine?

The goal of osteopathic manual medicine is to relieve impaired or altered function of the musculoskeletal system through a wide range of manual techniques. Good circulation of bodily fluids is a principle of osteopathy and hormones are just as important as blood. In addition to manipulative therapies patients will receive dietary, postural, and occupational counseling to aid in their recovery from illness or injury and to minimize pain and disease. Two branches of osteopathic manual medicine are somewhat controversial even among osteopaths and their efficacy remains largely unproven. These are cranial and visceral osteopathy.

Cranial Osteopathy

Cranial osteopathy is a highly debated practice and insurance companies will not pay for the treatment. Essentially the practitioners of cranial osteopathy are trained to detect subtle, rhythmic changes in the shape of the head and body, an involuntary mechanism known as the cranial rhythm. Advocated by some as an eye treatment, osteopathy of the cranium considers the geometric relationship of the eyes in their bony containers or orbits among its other principles. First developed in the 1900s, the practice is increasingly recognized for use with newborns and children for treatment of colic and crying.

Visceral Osteopathy

Practitioners of visceral osteopathy concentrate on the harmonious relationship between the internal organs of the various systems such as digestive and respiratory, which they believe function with interconnected synchronicity of motion. The therapy is used to treat imbalances and restrictions in these motions and is built on work done in the 1940s. Visceral osteopathy is also a controversial issue within the profession.