Anyone who has to deal with medical ailments or continuous bouts of not feeling well will know that it can be quite difficult to find a treatment that deals with the main issue rather than just the current symptoms. Dealing with more than one issue may even see you having to resort to a cocktail of different medications just to feel well enough to perform your daily activities.
If you’re one of those Australians who feels as though you’ve tried everything out there with no positive results, it may be time to stop looking. A quick visit to the osteo Frankston physicians recommends is quite possibly the solution you’ve been searching for. What is an osteopath and what services do they offer? Keep reading as we explore the answers.
Understanding Osteopathy
At its core, osteopathy is a holistic approach to health and well-being. This means that the various techniques and treatments under the osteopathy umbrella all focus on treating the whole person rather than just the symptom. For instance, an osteopath will focus on finding the reason for your migraines rather than just providing pain relief for a few hours.
For the most part, an osteopath will make use of various hands-on techniques to provide long-term relief, which can also form the basis for a more effective pain management plan. A few of the more common treatments and techniques used include the following:
- Joint articulation
- Muscle stretching
- Soft issue massage
- Joint manipulation
- Trigger point therapy
- Counter strain
- Dry needling (also known as cupping)
- Taping
The practice of osteopathy focuses on the principle that when given the proper support, your body has the remarkable ability to adapt, heal, and restore itself. This happens because your whole body is reciprocally interrelated. By addressing certain imbalances, your osteopath will be able to address a wide range of issues and also provide you with key techniques to add to your self-care routine.
Amazing Services on Offer
Osteopathy makes use of a series of timeless principles combined with evidence-based care, which are guaranteed to help you achieve long-lasting wellness in the most natural way possible. Do you think you might benefit from this kind of approach? Our team of specialists has compiled a list of the top services that may help you find comfort and pain relief.
1. Dry Needling
Commonly referred to as trigger point therapy, dry needling is a therapeutic technique that has been designed to reduce pain, relieve muscle tension, and promote overall recovery. During the dry needling process, the osteopath will insert fine, sterile needles into various trigger points in your muscles. Tight and tense muscles are instantly released, which significantly improves movement.
Dry needling is often confused with acupuncture. However, it’s essential to note that acupuncture is part of the Traditional Chinese Medicine umbrella and generally focuses on improving QI or energy flow. Treatments using dry needling have their origins rooted in more current techniques used in Western medicine and target various aspects of musculoskeletal dysfunction.
2. Pregnancy Therapy
Pregnancy is a wonderful time for many families, but it can also be very challenging on the mum-to-be’s overall health. This is largely as a result of the body’s natural changes, reduced mobility, and instances of pain. Osteopaths will use a wide range of hand techniques to help relieve many of the more common pregnancy pains and discomforts.
Recommendations are also made for at-home pain management techniques to provide relief when you can’t get to your osteopath. Advice is also given on the following:
- Pelvic floor relaxation techniques
- Active birth
- Tips to help reduce the risk of tears during labour
- Pain management techniques during labour
- Advice on movements or exercises to help create space for the baby
- Perineal massage
3. Preventive Wellness
Preventive wellness osteopathy is geared at maintaining a patient’s overall mobility and health by addressing smaller, minor imbalances before they have time to develop into dysfunction or pain. During this process, the osteopath uses a gentle, hands-on technique to boost circulation and, at the same time, reduce muscle tension.
This type of approach also promotes proper joint alignment, which will go a long way toward preventing chronic pain conditions or injuries. Opting for this particular approach helps to support flexibility, improve posture, and contribute to long-term physical well-being.
Preventive wellness is an ideal treatment for anyone suffering from any of the following ailments:
- Headaches
- Work-related aches and pains
- Neck and shoulder tension
- Back stiffness and associated pains
- Postural complaints
- Postpartum recovery and support
- Sport Recovery
- Sciatic pain
- Carpal Tunnel
Final Thoughts
No matter what ailment you’re dealing with, there’s a very high probability that a few tailored sessions with your local osteopath will provide you with a considerable amount of relief. Combining the right hands-on techniques with a few lifestyle changes will enable you to make the holistic approach of osteopathy part of your general pain management regimen. It’s an effective way to improve your overall well-being!