Osteopathy & Cranial Osteopathy
What is osteopathy?
Osteopathy is an established, recognized system of diagnosis and treatment that lays its main emphasis on the structural integrity of the body. It is distinctive in the fact that it recognizes much of the pain and disability we suffer stems from abnormalities in the function of the body's structure as well as damage caused to it by disease.
What is cranio-sacral therapy?
Cranio-sacral therapy is a specialized area of osteopathy which uses the rhythmic pulse of the cerebrospinal fluid for diagnosis and treatment. This "pulse" is felt throughout the body but primarily at the back of the skull and the base of the spine.
What does treatment entail?
Osteopaths use their hands both to investigate the underlying causes of pain and to carry out a variety of manipulative techniques. These may include muscle and connective tissue stretching, rhythmic joint movements or thrust techniques to improve the mobility in a joint. Gentle releasing techniques can be used when treating young children or the elderly.
Craniosacral Therapy uses particularly gentle techniques to identify and correct mechanical disturbances and limitations both in and around the joints of the skull and throughout the body.
What do osteopaths treat?
Osteopathy can be used to help back or neck pain - either a long term condition or more acute pain brought on by a fall, strain or other activity. It can also help with painful joints, tennis elbow, frozen shoulder, indeterminate aches and pains and functional problems such as asthma, constipation, migraine, period pains and many more.
Craniosacral therapy can also be used in all of these conditions but comes into its own as a treatment for symptoms arising after head injury, distress and illness in a child following a difficult birth, and any situation which requires particularly gentle techniques.
Osteopathy can help with a wide range of conditions. If in doubt, it is worth consulting the practice for further details.