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Osteopathy - your health in good hands

Osteopathy - your health in good hands

27-10-21

Osteopathy is a branch of complementary medicine that aims to improve our overall balance, mainly through physical manipulation.

This method is based on 4 basic principles:  

The human body is a functional unit made of several interrelated structures. In other words, our body should not be regarded as a series of stand-alone parts, but rather as a set of mutually complementary systems that work in coordination. Therefore, alterations in one body area may lead to dysfunction, pain or loss of mobility even in other body areas. The same also applies to healing and positive effects, which may reverberate in other body areas than the one directly treated. 

The body possesses self-healing and self-regulatory abilities. Dr Andrew Taylor Still, the founder of osteopathy, thought that the osteopath’s job was to remove all obstacles that hinder the patient’s rebalancing. In his view, “The body is its own drugstore: all the substances we need for our health are found there.”

Structure and function are reciprocally interrelated on all levels. For example, a blocked or stiff spine will hinder fluency of movement, inducing a widespread sense of malaise and fatigue, both physical and mental. In fact, freedom of movement and absence of pain are required for well-being to be experienced fully.

Any rational osteopathic therapy must be based on the first 3 principles. 

 

What conditions does osteopathy treat? 

Osteopathy has proved to be effective for treating a wide range of conditions and diseases, as well as for prevention and health improvement purposes. In most cases, people turn to osteopathy seeking relief for musculoskeletal ailments, such as back pain, lumbago, neck pain, tendonitis, joint pain, foot problems and more. This kind of therapy, however, also offers relief in cases of tension headaches, migraines, vertigo and balance disorders, as well as ear, nose and throat disorders and diseases of the internal organs.  

What happens during an osteopathy session?  

During the first appointment, the osteopath starts by interviewing the patient to assess their state of health and expectations. After compiling the patient’s history, the practitioner then examines the patient, performing a careful observation of posture, mobility tests and palpation to detect any imbalance in the body structures. 

This is followed by a specific osteopathic treatment that targets any skeletal, cranio-sacral, fascial or visceral dysfunction. This treatment consists of exclusively manual manipulation, without the use of any equipment, and is performed with a light-handed approach that is gentle on the body tissue. During treatment, the osteopath searches for blocks or areas of rigidity, unblocking them through light manipulation and targeted movements that help to restore mobility, enhance relaxation and restore the best possible state of balance. Sometimes, body parts will be treated that are apparently unrelated to the areas where pain manifests. This is the case, for instance, when visceral problems such as slow digestion, swelling etc. end up causing back pain or headaches. In fact, the primary aim of osteopathy is to treat the root cause of a disorder, rather than just its symptoms.

Osteopathy at ADLER SPA & MED 

One or two treatment sessions are sometimes enough to trigger the body’s self-healing processes, while in other cases several sessions may be required to achieve the desired results. 

The relaxing atmosphere of the ADLER Resorts also enhances treatment outcomes – as is known, taking a break from routine and making time for one’s health can help to awaken our “inner doctor”.  

Osteopathy is a gentle form of treatment where discomfort is very rare. On the contrary, patients frequently report feeling a sense of lightness, ease and harmony after the treatment. Following an osteopathy session, it is recommended to avoid physical strain and relax for 15 minutes. After that, you can freely go back to enjoying your holiday activities.  

Another great advantage of osteopathy is that – thanks to a variety of different techniques – it is suitable for everyone, from children to seniors and from sports people to pregnant women and people with sedentary lifestyles. 

In Italy, osteopathy has been an officially recognised health profession since 2018.  

 

Massimiliano Langgartner Danese, D.O. Msc. Ost. (UK) 

Ostheopath