Although it has existed since the late 1800s, many people are not aware of what classical osteopathy is and how it can benefit your health.
The treatments offered by osteopathic manual therapy practitioners are non-invasive and meant to balance the various systems within your body.
Restoring balance within and between these systems stimulates your body’s natural healing mechanisms, resulting in your body working as it should – without stress or strain.
If the contents of this article resonate with you, you may benefit from visiting a Toronto osteopathic manual practitioner.
But what is an osteopathic manual therapy practitioner, and what do treatments from one look like?
What Is An Osteopathic Manual therapy Practitioner?
Classical osteopathy is a holistic drug-free therapy that centres around the health of the entire body, rather than localizing the treatment to one specific area or injury.
The therapy focus is on your joints, spine, muscles and all tissues of your body, using techniques such as gentle stretching, pressure and range of motion.
Those who practice this are called osteopathic manual therapy practitioners.
Although classical osteopathy is often used alongside other treatments, osteopathic manual therapy practitioners are highly qualified and have more in-depth training than some other complementary therapists.
What Is It Used For
Classical osteopathy works to balance and restore your body’s internal systems. From musculoskeletal to lymphatic to circulatory, there are numerous benefits from this kind of therapy.
Classical osteopathy is often used as a treatment for chronic pain conditions such as arthritis, headaches, and general joint/muscle pain.
It is also used to help with digestive problems and fix posture.
Sleep health is absolutely crucial for everyone, and improper sleep can lead to worsened pain and stress. Classical osteopathy can help improve your sleep health by reducing insomnia so you can get a better night’s sleep.
Additionally, an osteopathic manual therapy practitioner can help prevent future health issues by uncovering and analyzing potential areas of concern.
What To Expect From An Appointment?
Classical osteopathy is considered to be a patient-centred treatment, beginning with a consultation.
Your osteopathic manual therapy practitioner will listen, take notes, and discuss any health issues you would like to target during the therapy.
After the consultation, you will be asked to perform simple stretches and movements to assess your mobility.
They will also use palpation, a trained technique of touch, to assess the overall health of your joints, muscles, and tissues.
After the consultation and examination, you and your osteopathic manual therapy practitioner will work together to determine a future treatment plan.
As treatment revolves around the concept of self healing, your osteopathic manual therapy practitioner may recommend various lifestyle changes or home exercises.
What’s The Difference Between An Osteopathic Manual Therapy Practitioner And A Chiropractor?
While an osteopathic manual therapy practitioner and a chiropractor may seem as though they offer similar treatments, there are key differences between the two.
Chiropractors typically focus on one localized area, the zone where you experience pain or injury, while classical osteopathy addresses the entire body.
When you think of a chiropractor, you often think of joints popping and cracking – this kind of rough treatment is not typical of Classical osteopathy.
Although the chiropractor and the osteopathic manual practitioner may treat similar pains, such as back or neck pain, the chiropractor focuses on the position of the spine and joints rather than on balancing the body’s systems.
Contact Annex Naturopathic
Classical osteopathy is a holistic therapy that has the potential to benefit many people, both in conjunction with other treatments and also when implemented by itself.
From chronic pain to posture to stress reduction, classical osteopathy can improve your health in countless ways – and it is entirely non-invasive, natural, and free of drugs or medication.
If you’re interested in learning more about classical osteopathy, contact Annex Naturopathic.
You can meet with one of our experienced osteopathic manual therapy practitionersand discuss a treatment plan that works for you and your body.
From stress to pain to posture, treatment has the potential to greatly improve your quality of life and restore balance to your body and mind.
Next time, we’ll talk about the specific benefits of classical osteopathy – check back here for more information.
