What is Osteopathy

Well, It’s what osteopaths do… and who are they? Historically Osteopaths were a dapper bunch (as pictured above) enthusiastic about the body, never far from a skeleton and most likely with a vertebra in their pocket as a talisman. Osteopathy was born out of a deep appreciation for the processes in nature and a cunning curiosity for understanding how things really work.

Still dapper, Osteopaths today are 5-year university trained registered allied health professionals with extensive training in anatomy, physiology, pathology and biomechanics. We take this knowledge and with our hands implement it restore the body’s structures original alignment so that function or performance may be optimised. Joints free from compression slide and glide making movement feel effortless. Blood vessels free from kinks and compression carry nutrients and wastes efficiently promoting rapid healing and vitality. A nervous system in balance looks after our internal cellular processes (physiology) harmoniously leaving us feeling energised and simultaneously relaxed.

Read on for a little more on Osteopathic philosophy….

The relationship between structure and performance

When structure is aligned, function is optimal. We know this from well made furniture where a drawer glides in and out smoothly and without effort.  A shoulder is no different, well…it’s a little bit different. But the same principles apply. Good alignment, balanced load, freedom from restriction and strain all lead to smooth pain free movement and less wear and tear in the future. When tissue architecture is free from distortion the function is optimised,

One part moves, all parts move

This is an age old expression from the practice of Tai Chi. It marries well with Osteopathic philosophy in understanding that the body is more than the sum of it’s parts but an integrated system. No part functions in isolation. The body is really a community, each part with a particular skill that contributes to the overall functioning and health of the individual. For the highest form of health these parts must be integrated and communicate freely.

In practical terms, your knee can’t bend without a nervous system telling it to do so. It also requires fuel brought to it from the digestive system via arteries, Osteopaths are fascinated by these supply chains and networks spending years studying them. On a more structural level a shoulder problem may not be a result of a problem in the shoulder itself. It could be the result of poor alignment in the pelvis. In this case no amount of work in the shoulder itself will lead to resolution. The Osteopath looks at the body as a whole and treats it as such.

Band-Aids don’t heal

When you cut yourself you might apply a band aid. The band-aid doesn’t heal you. It simply helps the healing process by protecting it from further injury. If there are no interruptions from infection or further knocks the processes of cellular repair get to work and put things back together. This process is powerful. When you break a bone the same processes happens, damaged tissues are removed, new cells are formed and if the process is free from interruption 6 weeks later the bone is new. Osteopathy doesn’t heal you, you heal you. The Osteopath simply identifies and removes any barriers to this process, facilitates optimal structure for healing and educates on the best self care to minimise discomfort and speed up healing time.

The Yarra after a good rain

Full rivers flowing strongly are the lifeblood of the land. In the body the circulatory system nourishes the internal ecosystem. Tissue health is only as good as it’s blood supply. All the kale in the world is of no benefit if it’s goodies can’t reach the cells. Injuries to the body and holding patterns from stress and trauma can disrupt these vital pathways, turning the beautiful flowing rivers of the body into sludgy billabongs where disease can breed. Osteopaths tend to work a little like plumbers for your body removing blockages. Good blood flow is essential for good health.