useNature.

com

Natural Health & Lifestyle Directory

Australia - Body - Mind - Spirit   

What Is Osteopathy?

Osteopathy dates back to 1872 when Dr A. T. Still could not solve his family health problems with his knowledge as a physician. He set out to develop a holistic system to stimulate the body to do its own healing, eliminating the use of addictive drugs from his practice. He considered surgery as a last resort. Osteopathy is distinctive in the fact that it recognises 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.

How Osteopaths Treat

Osteopaths use their hands to investigate and treat a broad range of problems. Osteopaths draw from a wide variety of hands-on techniques that can be chosen to suit an individual's specific problems and preference. Such techniques include soft issue stretching and massage, skeletal adjustments and joint manipulation, myofascial release and positional release techniques, and other gentle techniques such as cranial osteopathy. Due to the wide variety of techniques, osteopathy may help in a wide variety of conditions in all age groups from new-borns and kids to the elderly.

Cranial Osteopathy

Not all osteopaths use cranial osteopathic technique as part of their treatments. If you are after a cranial osteopathy, ask when making an appointment for yourself or your children to see if the Osteopath uses cranial osteopathy regularly.

Osteopaths generally take a holistic approach when treating, considering the whole body; they aim to help the body heal itself. As well as hands-on treatment and depending on the problem, they may give you stretching and exercise advice, nutritional help, stress management tips, or postural and ergonomic advice.

What Else Is There To Know?

Osteopaths are primary health care practitioners in Australia so you generally do not need a referral from a medical doctor. Health fund rebates are claimable on most visits to osteopaths. Some osteopaths also work under WorkCover, Veterans Affairs and Medicare's Enhanced Primary Care Plan schemes.