WHAT IS OSTEOPATHY?

Osteopathy: identifying and treating dysfunctions

Osteopathy is a branch of medicine founded on principles discovered by the American physician Dr. Andrew Taylor Still in 1874. Over the past 140 years, osteopaths around the globe have continued to evolve this discipline.

The principles of osteopathy

Osteopathy aims to identify and treat dysfunctions, addressing each patient as a unity of body, spirit, and soul. From the osteopathic perspective, each body part and physical structures requires full liberty of action in order to function at its best. If this liberty is limited in any way, tissue tension and dysfunctions ensue. These dysfunctions may accumulate to form conditions that the organism is unable to compensate on its own.

Please note: while osteopathy may complement conventional medicine in many cases to the benefit of the patient, it does not aim to replace conventional medical therapy.

Searching for root causes

As osteopaths, we focus on the whole person rather than separate symptoms and their treatment. Each therapy therefore starts with a comprehensive anamnesis or case history. Findings from earlier medical examinations often prove valuable for the anamnesis. It is followed by an manual examination and treatment session. Osteopaths only use their hands to examine and treat their patients.

We therefore need to develop our sense of touch during a long and intense training program. This allows us to examine and treat our patients using specialized osteopathic techniques that target dysfunctions (i.e. mobility inhibitions) and aim to resolve them.

How long does an osteopathic session take?

Every osteopathic treatment is designed individually to meet your needs. You should schedule about 30 to 50 minutes for each session. The exact procedure as well as the number of required sessions vary from patient to patient.

Is there anything the patient needs to bring to the osteopathic session?

Ideally, you should bring all available medical reports, sufficient time, and comfortable clothing (sportswear is good).

When is osteopathy contraindicated?

If you suffer from a tumor or severe infection, please consult your conventional physician or specialist. Minor infections like flu or a fever should be fully cured before you commence osteopathic treatment.