- What is it for
- How it is done
- Who should not do
- What is the difference between osteopathy and chiropractic
Osteopathy is a therapy that includes knowledge of alternative medicine and is based on applying manual techniques, similar to massage, to help in the recovery, maintenance and restoration of the balance between body and mind. During the applied techniques, the professional trained in this area can move the joints, muscles and nerves to relieve pain and improve mobility of the body part.
Generally, this therapy is indicated for people who have problems such as dislocations, muscle spasms and pain in the sciatic nerve, in the back or shoulder, for example, and other problems in the body caused by sedentary lifestyle, poor posture, sports injuries or excessive stress. However, osteopathy is not indicated for people with very advanced osteoporosis and disorders of blood clotting.
What is it for
Osteopathic professionals, called osteopaths, apply stretching and massage techniques to improve conditions such as:
- Muscle spasms; Sciatic nerve pain; Back pain; Low back pain; Shoulder or neck pain; Herniated disc; Minor sports injuries.
The applied techniques help to improve joint movement, relieve muscle tension and improve blood circulation and therefore can also be recommended for pregnant women to reduce the symptoms of back pain and swelling in the legs due to the weight of the belly.
How it is done
Before starting osteopathy sessions, the professional will make a first appointment in which he / she will collect information about health problems, family history of illness, lifestyle and eating habits and will be able to assess the person's posture and analyze whether the person has anxiety or stress. If the osteopath identifies a serious health problem, he can refer a doctor, such as the orthopedist.
During the sessions, the osteopath makes a series of hand movements, such as massages and stretches, to work the bones, muscles, ligaments and nerves in order to relieve pain and restore the health of the affected body part.
Treatment with osteopathy does not cause pain, however, depending on the severity of muscle or nerve injuries, the person may experience slight discomfort after the sessions. The osteopath does not recommend the use of drugs, but can give advice on changes in lifestyle, such as diet and physical activity.
Who should not do
Osteopathy is not recommended for people who have changes in the body that lead to bone fragility, such as severe osteoporosis and bone metastasis, for example, as it can worsen symptoms and cause other health problems.
In addition, this therapy is not indicated for people who have severe arthritis, bone fractures, disorders that affect blood clotting or who use blood thinning drugs, such as warfarin. In addition, people with multiple sclerosis, which is an autoimmune disease characterized by impairment of the nervous system and which can have pain and muscle weakness as a symptom, should also not have osteopathy.
What is the difference between osteopathy and chiropractic
Osteopathy is often confused with chiropractic practice, but osteopathy is a type of broader therapy that involves several techniques for the treatment of palpation that seeks to improve muscle problems, for example, looking for the causes of pain, in addition to focusing in the balance of the body and the mind as a whole.
Chiropractic, on the other hand, uses techniques that are more targeted at acute spinal pains and focuses directly on these painful areas, through more restricted massage techniques, with the aim of aligning the bones and relieving pain only. Learn more about what chiropractic is, what it is for and how it is done.
