Osteopathic Medicine

What is Osteopathy?

Osteopathy focuses on the whole body to promote healing, improve the body’s mobility, circulation and well being.Using a combination of traditional and modern healthcare philosophies, osteopaths generally use non-invasive forms of therapy like muscle soft-tissue work, joint mobilisation or manipulation, stretching and exercises, combined with education and advice to support the body’s natural healing processes.As university trained, government registered healthcare professionals, osteopaths take the time to understand your history, your lifestyle and your body so they can provide you with a personalised plan to get you as healthy as you can be with hands-on treatment, advice and management plans that work for you, to help reduce pain for the long term and enjoying life.

To learn more: https://whatisosteo.com/about-this-website/what-is-osteopathy/

Cranial Osteopathy

Cranial osteopathy is not different to osteopathy, it is the name given to a subtle and refined approach to osteopathy that follows all the principles of osteopathy, but that includes the anatomy and physiology of the head.

This approach to osteopathy is a way of viewing the body rather than a type of technique and it can be used on every patient – we treat people not conditions. Cranial osteopathy is widely known for the treatment of babies but is equally effective for children, adults and the elderly. In any osteopathic treatment, the whole body is involved and improvements are often noted in different areas and different systems rather than in just the symptomatic one.

Cranial osteopathic treatment is very gentle and relaxing. During the treatment some people are aware of different sensations, such as mild tension, aching or sensitivity that gradually disappear, or of feelings of warmth and relaxation. Other people are unaware of anything happening at all during the treatment but are aware that they feel very different afterwards. Most people become deeply relaxed during treatment and it is not uncommon for people to fall asleep.

To learn more: https://scco.ac/osteopathy/what-is-cranial-osteopathy/

Instrument assisted soft-tissue mobilisation (IASTM)

The technique is performed by the practitioner using stainless steel tools, to improve range of motion, strength, pain perception and reduce scar tissue.

To learn more: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6670063/

Nutritional and Environmental Medicine (Natural Medicine)

What is Nutritional and Environmental Medicine?

Nutritional Medicine

Nutrients are the building blocks of human physiology and play a key role in a person’s health and wellbeing. Current medical literature increasingly bears out the fundamental role of nutrition in health-optimisation and the prevention and treatment of many common conditions.

“Let thy food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food.”
–Hippocrates (460-377 B.C.)

Although as quoted above it can be understood that perhaps current knowledge is finally catching up to ancient wisdom!

Environmental Medicine

This area addresses the body’s:

External environment – allergies, sensitivities, toxicities and level of ability to detoxify

Internal environment – the GI tract – gut flora, integrity of intestinal wall, nutrient absorption and the immune system

Environmental Medicine is concerned with those physical and psychological symptoms that result from allergy or sensitivity to various inhalants, foods, beverages and numerous chemical substances in air, water and food. The central nervous system, with its rich blood supply, is particularly susceptible to the effects of allergens and toxins. Consequently, individuals exhibiting physical or mental illness are suspected of having a sensitivity to some environmental factor that is upsetting the balance of nutrients within the body.

Environmental toxins are eliminated as far as possible. For optimum results, a regular program of physical exercise and relaxation is advised. Stresses of emotional, psychological and social origin must also be dealt with, as part of a total treatment program.

Nutritional and Environmental Medicine

is defined as the study of the interactions of both nutritional and environmental factors with human physiology, biochemistry, pathology and anatomy and the clinical application of these interactions in the optimisation of health and the prevention and treatment of disease. This may involve the removal of certain foods or chemicals from the patient’s environment, the use of rotation diets and the provision of vitamins, minerals, trace elements and essential fatty acids,herbs or other nutritional supplements. Excesses or deficiencies of any nutrient or the presence of basic chemicals or electromagnetic radiation results in cellular dysfunction and illness. The underlying philosophy is closely aligned with Naturopathic principles and is a form of drug free Natural Medicine.

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT)

How Shockwave Therapy Works

Shockwave therapy accelerates the healing process in the body by stimulating the metabolism and enhancing blood circulation to regenerate damaged tissue. Shockwave technology delivers strong energy pulses that are applied to the affected area for short periods of time. This stimulates cells in the body that are responsible for bone and connective tissue healing. In many instances, shockwave therapy treatments, have proven to be effective in cases where the human body has not been able to heal itself on its own.

Shockwave therapy produces an acoustic pressure wave that is transmitted to the body’s tissue. The pressure wave created at the point of contact transmits radially inside the patient’s body.

Shockwave Therapy Treatments Delivered Through Shockwave Technology can help with:

• Plantar fasciitis
• Achilles tendinopathy
• Jumper’s knee (Patellar Tendonitis)
• Treatment of tendinopathy
• Hamstring muscle injuries
• Myofascial trigger points
• Bursitis
• Stiff big toe (hallux rigidus)
• Non-healing ulcers
• Tendonitis
• Scar tissue
• Calcific tendinitis of the rotator cuff
• Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis)
• Broken bones that have failed to heal (nonunions)
• Shoulder pain
• Tennis elbow
• Heel spurs
• Shin splints
• Stress fractures
• Enhancing bone healing
• Muscle and connective tissue injuries
• And more

Shockwave Acoustic Vibration Therapy

Shockwave vibration therapy is a very useful therapy that helps improve circulation, increase bone density and muscle mass as well as reduce joint pain and stress. It also helps to boost metabolism. Vibration therapy can be administered locally at the site of an injury or issue or throughout the whole body.

Did you know: Vibration therapy gained popularity initially as a way to help astronauts strengthen bone mass and muscles and it continues to be a relied upon therapy used by NASA today?

Localized shockwave vibration therapy is delivered by using the handheld shockwave device on the areas of the body that you are treating. The vibrations are transmitted into the patient’s body through the shockwave device which causes the muscles to contract and relax.

The direction and intensity of the vibrations impact the patient’s results. Does Shockwave produce vibrations that go up and down, front and back? Or just vertical?

The vibrations cause the patient’s body to begin producing more of a type of cell that produces bone, osteoblasts.

What Conditions Does Vibration Therapy Treat?

• Osteoporosis,
• Sarcopenia,
• Obesity, high BMI, and diabetes,
• Anxiety disorders associated with high-stress levels,
• Chronic back pain,
• Balance and coordination disorders,
• Hypoxia, prehypertension, and hypertension,
• And more.