Although osteopathy has no scientific or medical recognition in France, this unconventional healthcare practice remains regulated.
It relies on manual manipulations to prevent or relieve functional disorders of the human body.
Discover in this article when and why to consult an osteopath.
What is osteopathy?
Osteopathy is a therapy that seeks to identify and treat restrictions in mobility that can affect all the structures that make up the human body.
One of these basic principles is: "Life is movement."
This holistic manual practice is based on the body's ability to self-balance. Sometimes, we lose mobility in our joints, muscles, ligaments, or internal organs, which can cause imbalances and therefore the onset of pain or other symptoms.
This is often the result of stress, most often mechanical (repeated inappropriate movements, trauma, surgical after-effects) or emotional.
As Andrew Taylor Still, the founder of osteopathy, said: "The human body is remarkably intelligent; it constantly seeks ways to avoid stress and pain." To achieve this, it develops compensatory mechanisms to ensure daily comfort.
When the constraints are too strong or too numerous, this creates a favorable environment for the onset of pain, or even pathologies.
What is an osteopath?
An osteopath will work to restore movement to your entire body.
Osteopaths can help relieve back pain and all musculoskeletal disorders, but that's not all. They can also reduce pain related to digestive, urinary, or ENT problems. Finally, they can alleviate other ailments such as vertigo, stress, insomnia, or migraines.
This specialist in the human body uses his fingers to apply varying degrees of pressure to release tension and restore the body's balance.
Who can consult an osteopath?
Consultations with an osteopath are suitable for everyone, as long as there are no contraindications, for example, after a serious accident or surgery.
Indeed, osteopathy can treat a patient from birth to the end of their life. In practice, everyone can benefit from osteopathic treatment, whether they are athletic, sedentary, young, or old.
When should you consult an osteopath?
It is important to consult an osteopath at least once a year, even if there is no pain, in order to prevent its onset.
Why consult an osteopath?
The indications for osteopathic treatment are very broad:
- On the musculoskeletal system: sprains, tendinitis, lower back pain, upper back pain, neck pain, joint pain, functional or of rheumatic origin.
- On the neurological system: cervicobrachial neuralgia, intercostal neuralgia, facial neuralgia, Arnold's neuralgia, cruralgia, sciatica.
- On the cardiovascular system: circulatory disorders of the lower limbs, venous congestion, hemorrhoids.
- Regarding the digestive system: bloating, hiatal hernia, hepatobiliary disorders, colitis, constipation, indigestion, gastric acidity.
- On the ENT and pulmonary system: rhinitis, sinusitis, vertigo, tinnitus, headaches, migraines, bronchitis, asthma, bronchiolitis.
- On the autonomic nervous system: depressive states, nervousness, anxiety, stress, sleep disorders, spasmophilia.
- Regarding the after-effects of trauma: fractures, sprains, falls, accidents.
What happens during an osteopathy session?
During this consultation, several steps will lead the osteopath to determine the best possible treatment:
The anamnesis
The osteopath will ask you a series of questions in order to understand the reason for the consultation, the characteristics of the pain, and all the associated signs.
He is particularly interested in the ways in which the pain appears and places it in the context of the patient's medical history. He assesses the functioning of the body's various systems (nervous, ENT, cardiopulmonary, digestive, urinary, etc.) and inquires about the patient's personal and family medical history.
He will also ask the patient about their lifestyle habits (diet, physical activity, working positions, stress factors, etc.).
The clinical examination
The clinical examination is based on a visual observation of the patient and the painful area.
Depending on the reason for consultation, the osteopath may need to perform palpation tests known as exclusion tests in order to rule out all causes outside their scope of practice.
This is called a diagnosis of exclusion.
The osteopathic diagnosis
Through specific palpation tests, the osteopath explores the body in search of areas that present movement restrictions that may alter the state of health.
The location of restricted areas can sometimes appear at a distance from the painful area.
Osteopathic treatment
Treatment is implemented based on the diagnosis made beforehand.
An osteopath may need to treat different structures: joints, muscles, ligaments, viscera, fascia.
He chooses the most suitable and comfortable technique for each patient, depending on their age and morphology, the area of the body to be corrected and the need for the dysfunction.
The advice
The osteopath provides various tips for a comprehensive approach. This helps prevent the onset or recurrence of pain.
This part of the consultation is an essential aspect of the long-term success of osteopathic and curative treatment.
Conclusion
The osteopath has all the expertise to address a wide range of reasons for consultation.
An initial consultation aims to establish a precise diagnosis, following which the osteopath can either intervene alone, surround themselves with a multidisciplinary team, or refer you to another healthcare professional.
The best advice is to consult a doctor as soon as possible after the first symptoms appear.
An osteopath is a healthcare professional, but you do not need a medical prescription to consult one.
