Osteopathic Treatment - Description
Osteopathic treatment can be beneficial in reducing musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction, thereby improving posture, joint mobility, circulation and neural function, which also improves digestion and elimination. It does this through a variety of techniques, all of them gentle and hands-on. Osteopaths “listen” to the tissue and work with the vitality or energy that is present in the person without using unnecessary force. Osteopathy includes three basic approaches to treatment: structural, craniosacral and visceral.

Note: It is important that you speak with your medical doctor for the complete diagnosis of any medical condition.

Terminology to Understand the Techniques:
Parameter: one movement available to a joint (or a tissue) in a particular direction within its normal range of motion.

Barrier: a barrier to motion means a lack of full range of motion. A motion barrier can be caused by a shortening or tightening of connective tissues, hypertonicity of muscles, traumatic or compressive  forces to joints and edema. These barriers all have a different “feel”. When an osteopath wants to treat a dysfunctional tissue or joint, the barrier is found by stacking or accumulating all parameters to create a dynamic tension.

Point of balance: A tension equilibrium. The osteopath uses various techniques to find and match the tension that is already present in the tissue by stacking many parameters to create a perfect point of balance.

Still point: The still point happens after the point of balance has been found. There is a profound stillness that occurs and this is when the true healing takes place. The still point is a sensation that all local and surrounding tissues are interactive, involved, slightly under tension, but without movement, very silent. The tissues center their biodynamic energies in the still point to resolve and release a dysfunction and find a healthier solution.

Vitality:  The amount of energy or “life” sensed in a person or one of the structures of the body or the craniosacral rhythm.