Osteopathy? What is it?
When I mention that I am studying osteopathy and work by providing clients with osteopathic treatment, I often get the question: “Osteopathy? What is it exactly?“
Camilla is an authorized physiotherapist and is in her 4th year of the osteopathy program, which is a 4-year post-graduate degree for physiotherapists, chiropractors, and medical doctors.
What is osteopathy?
Osteopathy is a holistic method of treatment that views the whole body as an interconnected unit. An osteopath focuses on understanding the connection between the body’s various systems and uses their hands to promote healing. Osteopathy, formerly known as “manual medicine,” works to improve the body’s health through treatment with manual techniques.
This means that an osteopath is specialized in examining and treating musculoskeletal issues. The osteopathic approach is based on the whole person. Therefore, osteopaths do not only treat the symptomatic and pain-triggering structure. Osteopathy focuses on finding the connection and treating the root cause behind the issue to resolve it effectively.
How does osteopathy differ from other forms of treatment?
- Whole-body focus: Unlike many other treatment methods that only address specific symptoms, osteopathy goes deeper by finding the underlying causes. The practitioner looks at the balance and interaction of the entire body.
- The body’s natural healing: A central philosophy in osteopathy is that the body has an inherent ability to heal itself if it is in balance. The osteopath therefore works to restore this balance by removing any disturbances and imbalances in the body.
- Prevention and health promotion: Osteopathy does not only focus on relieving existing pain or problems. The practitioner also provides guidance on lifestyle changes, ergonomics, and exercises that can improve your general health and prevent future issues.
Osteopathy can be used for pain relief, improved mobility, prevention, and the promotion of general health. It is an effective method for restoring balance in the body and supporting the body’s own healing process.
Osteopathy
/ ˌɒstɪˈɒpəθi / noun
Formed from Greek – osteon ‘bone’ and a derivation of pathos ‘suffering, disease’. Taken together, osteopathy essentially means something like “bone treatment.”
The word osteopathy originates from Greek roots, where “osteo” means “bone,” because the treatment method originally focused on the body’s skeletal system as a central part of health. The founder of osteopathy, Andrew Taylor Still, developed the treatment method in the late 1800s.
He was convinced that the body’s musculoskeletal system – including bones, joints, muscles, and connective tissue – played a decisive role in overall health. Over time, osteopathy has evolved into a more holistic practice, but the name still reflects the original focus on bones and joints.
My first experience receiving Osteopathic treatment
Life with migraine attacks
In 2020, I had been struggling periodically with migraine attacks and jaw + neck tension for 5-6 years. At its worst, I had so much tension in my neck and face that my vision became blurred and I would vomit. On those days, I could do nothing but cancel everything and lie in bed with the curtains drawn.
I had started my physiotherapy studies at that time and had visited a physiotherapist myself to get rid of the migraine attacks and the tension.
The physiotherapist’s approach to treatment
The physiotherapist examined my neck and jaw region and gave me 5 home exercises – 2 for the neck and 3 for the jaw. I did the exercises for a while, but I felt my tension getting worse. The exercises actually provoked more migraine attacks. So, I quickly stopped doing them.
It should be noted that there are incredibly talented physiotherapists out there who also work from a holistic approach and try to find the cause rather than just relieving symptoms! Unfortunately, that just wasn’t my experience back then.
The osteopath’s approach to treatment
In 2021, my friend dragged me to an open house for the osteopathy program because she was curious about it. I happily went along, as I was already considering taking a postgraduate specialization after my physiotherapy studies—both to increase my competencies and to satisfy my hunger for more in-depth knowledge of the body and movement.
At the open house, there was first a presentation on what osteopathy is and what one would learn in the program. The evening concluded with a demonstration of what an osteopathic treatment could look like.
When the osteopath asked the room if anyone was struggling with an issue, I quickly raised my hand!
I was taken to the treatment table and examined regarding my migraine and neck pain and jaw issues. There, the osteopath very quickly found tightness in my connective tissue on the front of my chest. He explained that the tightness was pulling me forward and creating increased tension in the muscles around my neck. He spent about 10 minutes on my treatment to show it as an example to the group.
I left that evening inspired, excited, and with a wish to dive much deeper into osteopathy in the future. It couldn’t happen fast enough!
The most amazing thing is that since I received osteopathic treatment that evening in 2021, I haven’t had any more migraine attacks!
What does an osteopathic treatment involve?
Osteopathic treatment includes several elements to address issues holistically:
- Manual Treatment: Osteopaths use a variety of different techniques to optimize the body’s function. All techniques—from the firm to the very gentle—are adapted to the specific client and their problem. Osteopathic manual treatment can include manipulations, joint mobilization, visceral mobilization, connective tissue stretching, and craniosakral therapy.
- Lifestyle Counseling: For the body to heal itself, lifestyle changes are often required. Therefore, the patient receives guidance on how to best understand and take care of their own body. This can include advice on exercise, diet, stress management, and pain management. The focus is on understanding why the pain arose, what one can do to reduce it, and how to prevent the pain from returning in the future.
- Guidance in Training and Breathing: Most osteopaths in Denmark are also trained physiotherapists. This means that most of us also have an understanding of exercise and know how important it can be for keeping the body healthy and symptom-free. Breathing also has a lot to say regarding how our nervous system is doing. Therefore, many osteopaths also give their clients training and breathing exercises to do at home when relevant to the client’s issue.
My Osteopathic Treatments
What does an osteopathic treatment look like with me?
I apply all my experience regarding the body, movement, and breathing from my education as a physiotherapist.
Additionally, I use my background as a movement instructor (yoga, mobility, acroyoga, handstands) to help people increase their strength, mobility, and body awareness, and to achieve a feeling of lightness in the body.
In my treatments, I include many techniques from osteopathy, such as joint mobilizations, myofascial (connective tissue) stretches, visceral (organ) mobilization, craniosakral therapy, manipulations, and muscle and soft tissue massage.
These techniques help increase the body’s function and restore balance in the body. The treatments relieve pain, tension, discomfort, headaches, and other ailments, and can result in a feeling of deeper breathing, more calm, and increased mobility, strength, and lightness in the body.
My goal is for you to feel more at home and free in your body when you leave my clinic room!
My treatment sessions are for you if you want to feel more free and comfortable in your body. Whether you have pain, an injury, struggle with stress, migraines, constipation / irritable bowel syndrome, or just want a better connection to yourself, you are very welcome. Exactly as you are.