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Osteopathy is an established, recognised
system of diagnosis and treatment that lays its main emphasis
on the structural integrity of the body.
It is distinctive in recognising that much of the pain and
disability we suffer stems from abnormalities in the function
of the body structure as well as damage caused to it by disease.
Osteopaths use their hands both to investigate the underlying
causes of pain and to carry out treatment using a variety
of manipulative techniques. These may include muscle and connective
tissue stretching, rhythmic joint movements or high velocity
thrust techniques to improve the range of movement of a joint.
Gentle releasing techniques are also often used, particularly
when treating children or elderly patients.
How does Cranial Osteopathy differ from Osteopathy?
Cranial Osteopathy is a refined and subtle type of osteopathic
treatment that uses very gentle manipulative pressure to encourage
the release of stresses throughout the body, including the
head.
The cranial approach uses techniques in which the osteopath’s
highly trained sense of touch is used to identify and correct
mechanical disturbances and limitations, both in and around
the joints of the skull, and throughout the body.
Cranial Osteopathy embraces all the areas that Osteopaths
may choose to specialise in, for example sports injuries,
paediatrics and visceral work (treating the internal organs
of the body).
Who do Cranial Osteopaths treat?
Cranial Osteopaths treat all people regardless of age or
gender. Babies may be treated to ease conditions relating
to the birth process.
Young children can be treated for a variety of conditions.
Conditions relating to old age also respond well to osteopathic
treatment. In fact everyone can benefit from and receive treatment
for a variety of ailments and injuries.
Cranial Osteopathy is also useful during pregnancy.
What do Osteopaths treat?
Osteopathy, particularly cranial osteopathy, is an holistic
medicine that aims to treat the whole person, not just the
presenting condition. Some of the conditions that cause people
to seek treatment are:
Pain for example, back and neck pain, joint pain, headache
and migraine.
Digestive disorders.
Menstrual pain and disorders.
Recurrent infection.
Chest and respiratory problems for example, sinusitis, asthma
and chest complaints.
Mental and emotional problems such as, stress, depression
and fatigue.
Childhood problems such as excessive crying, feeding problems,
colic, sleep patterns, mobility and play, teething and head
banging.
Childhood learning difficulties such as, dyslexia and dyspraxia.
Occupational injuries for example, work or sports related,
driving either as driver or passenger.
Problems experienced during pregnancy and post natally for
example, low back and leg pain, neck and shoulder pain, discomfort
around the thorax, indigestion, wrist pain and post natal
complaints of the pelvis.
Visiting an Osteopath
When you visit for the first time a full case history will
be taken and an examination will be made. The Osteopath may
ask you to perform a simple series of movements and will then
use a highly developed sense of touch, called palpation, to
identify any points of weakness or excessive strain in the
body.
Using very subtle and gentle techniques, the accumulated
stresses and strains in the body are gradually released. The
aim is to relieve the current symptoms and also improve the
underlying health of the tissues, as far as possible, so that
symptoms do not recur.
As osteopathy is patient-centred your course of treatment
will be geared specifically to suit you. Normally you will
be asked to return in 4-6 weeks in order to assess how you
have responded to the treatment. In specific circumstances
you may be asked to return sooner. The overall number of appointments
required will vary with the severity of the condition being
treated and the individual patient’s response to treatment.
About Florence Vion and Nathalie Rousseau
Nathalie Rousseau( France) and Florence Vion (Belgium) have
both graduated from the European School Of Osteopathy, Maidstone,
UK. After a 4 year training in France and the UK they have
both obtained Bachelors of Science in Osteopathy and are registered
with both the General Osteopathic Council (UK) and the Irish
Osteopathic Association.
Cranial Osteopathy
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