If you ever have a problem with your joints, muscles or spine, an osteopath can help. Osteopathy treatments aim for a holistic approach when treating your body’s nervous, lymphatic, and circulatory systems. This is a manual medicine where both the diagnosis and the treatment are carried out using the hands.
Osteopathy is only a complementary therapy. This is not a replacement for conventional treatments. The osteopathic therapists are also qualified medical doctors who had completed 5 years of training at university level. They are more focused and experienced in examining, treating, diagnosing, managing, as well as preventing the musculoskeletal disorders using physical treatment.
A Short Description of OSTEOPATHY.
Here’s what you need to know about osteopathy. Osteopathy has helped a lot of people. Osteopathic physicians can also detect conditions that may not be treatable through osteopathy. This is where they refer patients to specialists. But some of the treatments that an osteopath can do may include:
- Arthritis
- Pain in foot, ankle, hip, and knee
- Sciatica, back pains, and neck pains
- Pain in the shoulder, hands, and elbows
- Headaches
- Tennis and golfer’s elbow
- Problems with the future that may be caused by pregnancy, sports injury, driving or work strain
- Digestive problems
- Neuralgia
What To Expect From The Treatment
Osteopathy is patient-centered. There will be an initial consultation before the actual treatment or management starts. On the consultation process, the osteopathic physician will be discussing your health problem. This usually lasts for about 45 minutes to an hour.
Physical examination will follow where the diagnosis is carried out. The examination process will take an hour or two depending on the patient’s case. There will be stretches and movements for better analysis of the posture and mobility. On this process, the health of your joints, ligaments, and tissues will be assessed through a highly trained technique of touch or palpation.
The osteopathic physician will then plan a treatment for you. It may take a couple of sessions. The treatment will also include self-healing where there will be dietary changes, home exercise programs, and lifestyle adjustments if needed. After your first session, you may feel sore for the first 24 to 48 hours.
How Much Does an Osteopathy Treatment Cost?
The cost usually varies. This will depend on the clinic, your insurance plan that you have, and your location. Usually, the insurance plan will fund osteopathy treatments depending on your condition. It is best to inquire with your insurer if there is any limit per session or overall limit, especially for outpatient complementary therapies.
Are There Any RISKS with Osteopathy Treatments?
After a session, you may feel sore for 24 to 48 hours. Some may even feel a temporary headache. For older patients, there might be less common side effects which may include severe pain, rib fracture for patients with osteoporosis, numbness, and tingling.
If these side effects occur, it is best to speak with your osteopath or your physician. For any severe side effects, emergency medical treatment may be needed which may include stroke, prolapsed disk, nerve damage, muscle weakness, or bladder and bowel problems. However, you must remember that these adverse effects are very rare and may be considered as an isolated case.
Like any other treatment, osteopathy may involve some risks. Before setting an appointment with your osteopath, consult with your doctor first and get an approval to avoid any problems in the future. Remember that the osteopathy treatment will not be finished in just one session. Some may take a couple of visits to your osteopath until you recover.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.