THE COMPLETE FUNCTION OSTEOPATHIC TREATMENTS & TECHNIQUES/SPECIALTIES
Osteopathy aligns the body systems through the mobilization of fascia within the joints and soft tissues of the body. An Osteopathic Manual Practitioner can help you with through use of various techniques and is able to alleviate your pain, improve body systems function, and increase the range of motion of different movement patterns. Osteopathy is a holistic approach to your health and wellness and enhances your overall health status.
Osteoarticular Mobilization
Manual osteopaths use this technique to reduce muscle spasms near a joint, ease neurological irritations around a joint, make joints more mobile and to reduce pain and discomfort. The articular technique involves gently moving 2 joint surfaces. Before doing this, Manual osteopaths carefully prepare the soft tissues around the treatment area. They also move the patient into a position that will minimize, or eliminate the energy and force needed to perform the maneuver. Many patients find this technique less forceful than high velocity low amplitude (HLVA) joint adjustments.
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Muscle Energy Techniques
Muscle energy techniques (MET) are used to treat somatic dysfunction, especially decreased range of motion, muscular hypertonicity and pain. Muscle energy techniques can be employed to reposition a dysfunctional joint and treat the affected musculature with gentle push-and-hold principles. MET are used as a gentle alternative to High-Velocity Low Amplitude (HLVA) adjustments and are very effective in restoring alignment to joints especially the neck, thoracic spine, lumbar spine and pelvis.
Lymphatic Manual Drainage
Lymphatic Drainage Therapy (LDT) is a light, skin-stretching technique that helps promote the movement of lymphatic fluid out of the stagnant and some times swollen limb which has lymphatic system insufficiency and deranged lymph transport. It should not be confused with a traditional massage. LDT is specifically focused on the lymph vessels to help the flow of lymphatic fluid and is a cutting edge hands-on method of lymphatic drainage developed by Bruno Chikly, MD, DO, LMT.
It was created out of his award-winning research on the lymphatic system consistent with recent scientific discoveries. LDT is the first technique that enables practitioners to detect and palpate the specific rhythm, direction, depth, and quality of the lymph flow anywhere in the body. Skilled practitioners with developed listening skills can practice Manual Lymphatic Mapping (MLM) of the lymphatic vessels and use their hands to assess and enhance overall circulation as well as determine the best alternate pathways for draining stagnant body fluid (lymph, interstitial, synovial fluid, etc…). Therapists work with flat hands, using all the fingers to simulate gentle, specific wave-like movements.. These subtle manual maneuvers activate lymph and interstitial fluid circulation as well as stimulate the functioning of the immune and parasympathetic nervous systems.
Osteopathic lymphatic drainage focus on the main lymphatic production and drainage points including the lymphatic nodes of the brain, cervical, axillary, mammary, lumbar, pelvic and inguinal. Gentle techniques will reduce the fascial restriction on the cisterna chyli, inguinal nodes, the liver, digestive intestines, the first rib/clavicular terminus and all the major lymphatic and venous systems to promote fluid return.
NeuroKinetic Therapy (NKT)
Neurokinetic therapy is a manual movement assessment protocol that can be applied for both assessment and rehabilitation by Osteopathic Manual Therpapists and other healthcare practitionners. Neurokinetic therapy or NKT is a series of muscle to muscle testing that tend to find the origin or root cause of dysfunction instead of chasing the symptoms. Neurokinetic therapy is based on the concept of the motor control center in the cerebellum and its role in muscle coordination, learning and compensatory patterns.
Visceral (Organ) Mobilization
Manual osteopaths use visceral manipulation to treat organs and viscera of the body, including the liver, spleen, kidneys, stomach, pancreas, intestines, bladder, uterus, lungs, and heart. Patients may feel pain in one or more of these organs, or the viscera may be less pliable than it should be. Manual osteopaths gently move the structures themselves and the fascia (connective tissue) that surrounds them to restore full movement.
Most patients treated with visceral manipulation feel only gentle pressure of the Manual osteopath’s hand, but the corrections are powerful enough to improve the mobility of an organ, improve blood flow, and help the organ function more effectively.
The above (and many other) osteopathic manual techniques and approaches are used in a coordinated and rational fashion to slowly adjust the patients anatomy and physiology towards normal, so that the patient’s body can heal itself.
CranioSacral Therapy
This is a very gentle osteopathic technique, and it requires the most experience to use effectively. To learn this technique, Manual osteopaths undergo intensive training. Through this training, their hands become sensitive to the cranial mobility and develop great precision in utilizing cranial techniques. Manual osteopaths use this gentle technique to assess and treat the mobility of the skull and its contents. They may also use it to assess and treat the spine, the sacrum, and other parts of the body. The goal of this technique is to adjust the body’s physiology by restoring balance to the circulation of the blood and other body fluids. Manual osteopaths do this by treating the body’s inherent biorhythm. They are able to feel this rhythm in the patient’s head, spinal cord, sacrum and the rest of the body. Manual osteopaths use the biorhythm to assess the patient’s condition, and they may modify it during treatment.
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Fascial Release
The Osteopathic Manual Practitioner uses soft tissue manipulation in many different ways. In general, they use it to evaluate the condition of tissues and to help the body’s fluids (such as blood and lymphatic fluid) flow smoothly. Keeping fluids flowing smoothly reduces harmful fluid retention and makes the body’s immune system more effective. Fascia is tissue found in all parts of the body. It connects all of the body’s structures at both superficial and deep levels. Practitioners evaluate the fascia to find areas of restriction and then use soft tissue manipulation to make sure the length and tension of the fascia are properly balanced. Throughout the treatment, manual osteopaths keep checking on the state of the body’s tissues. If one technique isn’t working to correct a restriction, they use another approach instead. Above all, manual osteopaths try to restore health without over-treating.
Fascial Stretch Therapy (FST)
Osteopathic Manual Therapists and other healthcare practitioners use the Frederick Method of Fascial Stretch Therapy (FST) principles and techniques as part of Osteoarticular Mobilizations and Fascial Release Techniques. The science and ongoing research of our connective tissue system (commonly called the fascial system) has produced new models of anatomy and physiology that are shifting old paradigms in stretching and many fields like physical medicine and manual therapy. Proving that a muscle cannot lengthen, strengthen, or functionally do anything in isolation is only one of many discoveries that have led to great advances in the effectiveness of fascial stretching and other therapies.
The Frederick Method of Fascial Stretch Therapy technique leans into the shifting paradigms and treats the whole person, not just a body part. It is pain-free and uses constant circulatory, gently oscillating movements of traction and stabilization to decompress joints and expand space in the soft tissues. Beyond gaining range of motion where needed, one experiences vastly improved kinesthesia (ability to move with ease) and proprioception (sense of one’s posture both when still and in movement). An overall feeling of wellbeing, confidence, and ease with oneself after receiving FST is the capstone to personal and professional transformation. The Frederick Method of Fascial Stretch Therapy is great for all clients of all ages looking to improve movement; athletes, weekend warriors, workers and many others.
Concussion Assessment and Post-Concussion Programming
A concussion management program for osteopathic manual therapy should be comprehensive using visual screening protocols, balance assessment protocols, treating using osteoarticular techniques, and craniosacral therapy and include a standard operating procedure for the Buffalo Concussion Treadmill Test. The Buffalo Concussion Treadmill Test (BCTT) which is a form of graded exercise testing that is used to determine at what exertion level patients can exercise without provoking the worsening of their symptoms. The BCTT is used to establish exercise intolerance, clarify underpinning for symptoms (differential diagnosis of post-concussion symptoms (autonomic vs. cervicogenic, vestibular, etc.), identify physiologic changes associated with concussion, exacerbation of symptoms (exercise intolerance), and assist in treatment protocols.
The BCTT is used to assess the degree of exercise tolerance in patients with concussion and identify the heart rate (HR) at which concussion-specific symptom exacerbation occurs (i.e. the Heart Rate Threshold [HRt]). It is important to note that manual osteopaths (with kinesiology and CSEP Clinical Exercise Physiology) who are well-informed in the concussion literature can provide the Buffalo Concussion Treadmill Test.
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Athletes are not the only suffers of concussions. Millions of people suffer from post-concussion symptoms as a result of motor vehicle accidents each year in North America.
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A great post-concussion management care strategy does not operate in a silo. Interdisciplinary network is important with referral to physical therapist, medical doctor, kinesiologist, naturopathic doctor and neurologist as needed.
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https://www.concussionalliance.org/physical-therapy.
https://ubortho.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Buffalo-Concussion-Treadmill-Test-Manual.pdf
Rehabilitation (Exercise Therapy)
Rehabilitation is defined as “a set of interventions designed to optimize functioning and reduce disability in individuals with health conditions in interaction with their environment”.
Put simply, rehabilitation helps a child, adult or older person to be as independent as possible in everyday activities and enables participation in education, work, recreation and meaningful life roles such as taking care of family. It does so by working with the person and their family to address underlying health conditions and their symptoms, modifying their environment to better suit their needs, using assistive products, educating to strengthen self-management, and adapting tasks so that they can be performed more safely and independently. Together, these strategies can help an individual; overcome difficulties with thinking, seeing, hearing, communicating, eating or moving around.
Anybody may need rehabilitation at some point in their lives, following an injury, surgery, disease or illness, or because their functioning has declined with age.
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https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/rehabilitation
KinesioTape Fascial Taping
KinesioTape works on the principle of facilitating the body's natural healing process by providing support and stability to muscles and joints without restricting movement or circulation. The tape is designed to mimic the elasticity of human skin, which integrates with the superficial fascial layers, and is applied in a specific way to create different levels of tension on the underlying muscles and tissues. Overall, KinesioTape works by supporting the body's natural healing process and helping to restore normal function to injured or strained muscles and joints. The specific application of the KinesioTape will depend on the condition being treated and the goals of the therapy. The tape can be applied in various patterns and tensions to provide specific types of support and stimulation to the affected area.
Muscle facilitation:
KinesioTape is designed to provide support and stability to muscles without restricting movement. The tape works by gently lifting the skin, which creates a space between the skin and the underlying muscle. This space allows for increased blood flow and lymphatic drainage, which can help to reduce inflammation and promote healing.
Pain reduction:
KinesioTape can help to reduce pain by stimulating the sensory receptors in the skin. The tape creates a gentle pulling sensation on the skin, which can help to override the pain signals that are being sent to the brain.
Correcting joint alignment:
KinesioTape can be applied to help correct joint alignment and improve range of motion. The tape can help to guide the joint into the correct position and support it while it heals.
Improved proprioception:
KinesioTape can help to improve proprioception, which is the body's sense of its own position in space. By providing gentle feedback to the muscles and joints, the tape can help to improve balance and coordination.
Biomechanic Assessment
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The field of biomechanics and kinesiology in general deals with the effects of forces applied by muscles and gravity on the human body. A Biomechanical Assessment examines the body to find any issues with alignment, structure and highlight any strengths or weaknesses. This can be a visual assessment, gait assessment or use of video to identify key movement dysfunctions.
(P)rehabilitation
Prehab, also known as prehabilitation or preventative rehab, is taking the reactive strategies that healthcare providers use with patients in the rehab & sports medicine fields — and putting them into action in a proactive manner. Prehab is all about learning knowledge that applies to your body and your mind and using it to optimize the way you experience life. Prehab can help you with your daily activities, your workout routine, your favorite hobbies, your beloved sport, and any old or new nagging pains & injuries. Prehab is a legitimate preventative medicine solution for common neuromusculoskeletal issues that burden our healthcare system. That’s because the goal of prehab is to reduce your risk for injury while improving your overall physical health.
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Prehabilitation can also be preoperative rehabilitation, prehabilitation or prehab, is a form of healthcare intervention that takes place before a medical or surgical intervention with the aim to reduce side effects and complications, and enhance recovery. I.e orthopadic surgery, cancer treatment, etc.
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