Osteopath for Back Pain: Considered A Safe and Effective Treatment

Osteopathy has suddenly popped out on the horizon as the best treatment for back pain and joint problems, with thousands of people turning to Osteopaths in their neighborhood. What has made this a popular treatment is the element of safety and no side effects.

Unlike conventional medicine, which involves medication and surgery, osteopathic treatment promotes natural healing. This blog post focuses on osteopathy and how this method has treated millions of people with chronic to severe back pain without causing any side effects.

Describing Osteopathy and The Role of An Osteopath for Back Pain

Osteopathy can be described as a method of diagnosing, treating, and preventing health disorders by just applying joint manipulation techniques, including stretching exercises, and massage therapy. Most of the countries have classified osteopathy as a complementary or alternative medicine. The scope of Osteopathy is wider than most western medicine. Osteopaths follow the policy of holistic treatment that includes the entire body from the skeleton, joints, muscles, to soft tissue. While Western medicine focuses on treating specific illnesses.

Moreover, in osteopathy, the musculoskeletal system is regarded as a vital element of an individual’s long-term health and comprehensive well-being. The concept that forms the basis of osteopathy and some of the alternative treatments is that aligning the musculoskeletal structure promotes natural healing of the body. An osteopath for back pain works on establishing a relationship between the structure and function of the human body.

Pain Journey

Osteopathy is a non-invasive manual treatment that works to strengthen skeletal and muscle system. Without use of drugs, it helps:

·         Restore joint mobility,

·         Reduce muscle tension,

·         Reduce pain brought on by rigidity in muscles and joints,

·         Boost blood flow, and

·         Improve tissue elasticity.

An osteopath renders holistic treatment using innovative techniques for pain relief, treating a variety of ailments. The techniques commonly used in osteopathic medicine include:

Massage – This is a method that involves massaging the restricted points of joints and muscles, freeing them and restoring their normal functionality. The skilled hands of an osteopath work on your head, feet, and hands, lifting them slightly and pulling to defuse tension.

Spinal mobilization – This is a method where the Osteopath manipulates the spine to try and restore joint movement. This method can also treat imbalance in facet joints.

Neuromuscular therapy – In this technique, the patient uses their muscles in a distinctive direction, maintaining an exact position, against a counterforce applied by the osteopath.

Counterstrain method – This involves moving the patient away from a position that has immobilized them to a position that’s more comfortable.

Cranial therapy – This therapy focuses on therapeutic touch to engage with the bones of the head and spinal column. An osteopath for back pain performs gentle massage to relieve pain and tension.

Many osteopaths are trained to specifically treat back pain. The specialist osteopath goes about certain routines that enable one to benefit from such a treatment. This is how the osteopath works:

·         Osteopaths are trained professionals who do an accurate diagnosis based on the patient’s detailed case history and physical check-up. Along with analyzing the X-rays, scans, and other tests.

·         Osteopaths use different manual methods to treat after taking into account the individual’s age and overall fitness. They lightly massage soft tissues, mobilizing the back, to relax the joints, while a cracking sound is heard.

·         Osteopaths will also engage the patient in light exercises, including stretching. They’ll also guide the individual on the right posture to help relieve pain.

Osteopathy for Back Pain

The symptoms in back pain vary from person to person. Some individuals complain of severe pain in a specific location, like the top of the neck, while a few experience pain in pelvis. Yet some others experience pressure from the back on the nerves that leads to numbness in the legs and arms. But, some individuals have a pricking feeling of needles or pins.  All such pains appear suddenly and from any location of the spine.

Osteopathy can address all forms of pain ranging from lower back, middle back to upper back effectively. There is enough proof available that Osteopathy is an effective way to treat back pain. However, the pain may not be localized in the back region only. In some individuals the required treatment may cover certain body parts like the neck, hips, and knees.

Different conditions when people visit an osteopath for back pain include:

Back Pain - Typical aches, including lumbar pain, acute low back pain, and chronic back pain.

Joint Pain – These pains occur in the joints of the ankles, feet, shoulders, hands, etc.

Rheumatic Pain – This is a recurrent pain that affects the joints and the connective tissue.

Sciatica – This pain stems from compression of the “sciatic nerve” located at the lower part of the back.

Pregnancy-induced back aches – This type of back ache is commonly caused because of the spine having to support the weight of the growing baby.

Posture imperfections resulting from pregnancy and from driving or prolonged sitting at a computer table.

Muscle stress, including cramps or anxiety-related muscular tension.

Bottom Line

Osteopathy is considered a safe treatment with long-lasting, good results for individuals with different kinds of back pain.