Osteopathy is the science which holds that the relationship that the various parts of the body have with one another, directly or indirectly, determines the state of health in that body.
All body tissues, for health, are dependent upon arterial blood supply to, venous and lymphatic drainage from and axonal transport (flow of proteins and various other substances through nerve fibres) for their health. Osteopathy sees disease as an adaptive process of normal physiology which occurs when tissues are deprived of any of these fundamental processes because of poor structural integrity, organisation and movement of fluids such as lymph.
The aim of classical osteopathy is to assist our bodily structure achieve an improved relationship with gravitational forces, its process during treatment is to establish an improvement in relationship and organisation between parts by adjusting the structure using gentle rhythmic movements through the four limbs and careful specific adjustments are used where necessary, if indicated the face and cranium are also treated releasing energy for our bodies innate sense to organise the healing process. In this way classical osteopathy can be used to help people recover from all manner of symptoms that will often defy medical diagnosis as well as helping back pain and all the ailments that are commonly ascribed to osteopathic treatment.
A commonly asked when is "what is the difference between osteopathy and chiropractic" or "osteopaths and chiropractors" the answer is that it depends, modern osteopathy and chiropractic education is similar in a lot of ways. Classical osteopathy is different to both of these and it tends to focus on the whole of the individual rather than just musculoskeletal care. It does not restrict itself to relief of musculoskeletal symptoms, but focus’s on structural integrity, stability and physiological function. Because of this it is often helpful for long term chronic health problems that defy an orthodox diagnosis. It is gentle and relaxing and treats the person as an individual and every treatment is different, most people enjoy it and feel better for it. Classical and cranial osteopathy both require extensive post graduate education.
Cranial Osteopathy is a refined and subtle type of treatment that encourages the release of stresses and tensions throughout the body, including the head. It is a gentle yet extremely effective approach and may be used in a wide range of conditions for people of all ages, from birth onwards.
Cranial Osteopaths are trained to feel a very subtle, rhythmical shape change that is present in all body tissues. This is called involuntary motion.
The skull is made up of 26 bones which are intricately joined in such a way that during the rhythmical cycle of involuntary motion, the skull can actually change shape very slightly to accommodate the normal involuntary motion of the brain inside.
Impacts to the head can block or disrupt this movement. This can cause a very wide variety of problems both in the head and everywhere in the body.
Using involuntary motion in the tissues, osteopaths can feel whether a person is in an optimum state of health, or whether there is something preventing healthy movement of the tissues from occurring.
Cranial osteopathy can be helpful in reducing the symptoms of:
...and for pregnancy
Babies...
...for children
It is often thought that because babies and children are so young and supple, they should have no stresses or strains in their body. The reality is very different. Birth is one of the most stressful events of our lives. The pressures involved are enormous, as the uterus pushes to expel the baby against the natural resistance of the bony birth canal. The baby has to turn and twist as it squeezes through the bony pelvis, on its short but highly stressful journey. The baby's head as an amazing ability to absorb these pressures in a normal delivery, due to the overlapping of the small bones of the baby's skull. This moulding process may well resolve itself over the first few days as the baby adjusts to the outside world. Sometimes these pressures have been large, particularly in a stressful birth, and can therefore not fully settle. This can create a pattern of stress and strain within the baby, leading to an unsettled and uncomfortable pattern.
In their training, Osteopaths are taught a variety of treatment methods and techniques, ranging from the well known 'high velocity thrust' with it's dramatic clicks, to the very gently applied methods used by 'cranial osteopaths.'
Osteopaths vary their treatment methods depending on their own preference and individual patients' problems. 'Cranial Osteopath' is the name by which osteopaths who work at the more gentle, subtle end of the spectrum of different treatment approaches, have become known.
Osteopaths may have different specialists including sports injuries, paediactrics, visceral
(treating the internal organs of the body). Cranial Osteopathy embraces all of these.
