Osteopathy
Learn about the osteopathic treatment that Candice offers, and its underlying concepts.
Unity of the Body
The body is an interconnected unit where everything is interrelated. Its entirety is more significant than the individual components it comprises.
Structure and Function
The relationship between structure and function is reciprocal. When a structure or body part is injured or compromised, it affects the overall function of the body, and vice versa. Similarly, an organ or system's dysfunction can impact the surrounding structures like the spine and biomechanics.
Self-regulating and Self-healing Mechanism
The body possesses innate mechanisms for self-regulation and self-healing. Osteopathy plays a crucial role in removing barriers that hinder these inherent healing processes.
Rule of the Artery
Proper circulation of blood vessels, nerves, lymph, and other fluids is essential for tissue maintenance, health, and vitality. Just as a kinked hose impedes watering a garden, inhibited circulation can affect the body's well-being.
osteopathy
Restore balance, mobility, and function.
During an osteopathic treatment session, an osteopathic manual practitioner uses their hands to assess and treat various aspects of the patient’s body, including muscles, joints, ligaments, facia, organs, and other tissues. They employ a variety of techniques to restore balance, mobility, and function to the musculoskeletal system, nervous system, digestive system, cranial sacral system, circulatory system and more.
The initial treatment will comprise of an in-depth look at the patients’ health history to understand their health up to and including the present moment, as each detail adds to the overall picture of the presenting complaints.
A treatment plan will typically consist of 5 treatments spread out over a course of weeks to months depending on the severity, and at the end of that time re-evaluation will occur.
Treatment is one hour long, so wear comfortable clothing.
Osteopathy can provide effective pain relief for various musculoskeletal conditions. Osteopathic manual techniques such as soft tissue manipulation, joint mobilization, and spinal adjustments to address structural imbalances, reduce muscle tension, and alleviate pain. This can be particularly beneficial for individuals experiencing back pain, neck pain, joint pain, sports injuries, and other acute or chronic pain conditions.
Osteopathic treatment aims to restore proper alignment and mobility to the musculoskeletal system. By using techniques like joint mobilization and muscle energy techniques, osteopaths can help improve joint flexibility, reduce restrictions, and enhance overall range of motion. This can be especially beneficial for individuals with joint stiffness, limited mobility, or conditions like arthritis.
Osteopathic techniques can help improve circulation by addressing restrictions and enhancing blood flow to tissues. Improved circulation promotes the delivery of oxygen, nutrients, and immune cells to the affected areas, aiding in tissue healing and regeneration.
Osteopathy plays a role in the rehabilitation and recovery process for individuals recovering from injuries or surgeries. Osteopathic treatment can help manage pain, reduce scar tissue formation, restore mobility, and enhance overall function, supporting a smoother and more effective recovery.
Osteopathic treatment can have a positive impact on a patient’s overall well-being. Osteopathy considers the interconnectedness of the body systems and work to promote balance and harmony within the body. This approach, combined with the manual techniques used during treatment, can help reduce stress, enhance relaxation, and improve the body’s self-regulatory mechanisms.
The Unseen Forces of Osteopathy
Balancing the Mind, Body, and Spirit.
Individualized Treatment
It’s important to note that the specific benefits and outcomes of osteopathic treatment can vary depending on the individual patient, and their condition.
Osteopathy is patient-centric, and treatment plans are tailored to meet the individual’s needs, considering their medical history, lifestyle, and preferences.
Holistic Treatment
Osteopathic treatment aligns with the four principles and involves gentle hands-on manipulative therapy to rebalance and realign the body, restoring it to a state of homeostasis. Each treatment session has the potential to address the cause and the compensatory patterns within the tissues, allowing the osteopath to identify and address the totality of the issue at hand.
The treatment itself can be deeply meditative and relaxing. My approach involves subtle, gentle, and prolong holds that guide and adjust the structure either through bones, ligaments, fascia, organs, etc. Each manipulation is in accordance with your presenting issue but also with your entire mechanism as each part of the body is contained within the whole. Osteopathic treatment focuses on the presenting complaint and the interrelationships that exist within the body from natural forces such as gravity and levity; traumatic forces from falls, accidents, surgeries, and giving birth; emotional/stress/psychological disturbances, and the anatomical and physiological strain patterns which are contributing to the present moment. You will be amazed at how such subtle work can create such a profound and dynamic change to your wellbeing.
Integration of Mind, Body, and Spirit
Osteopathy also recognizes the integration of mind, body, and spirit, focusing on the complete well-being of the individual rather than solely treating the presented symptoms.
This concept of mind, body, spirit within osteopathy was conveyed by Dr. A.T. Still as foundational. Dr. Still saw the abundance of this infinite energy ‘pulse’ through the ‘veins of life’ and move every atom through the infinity of time. He saw osteopathy as a means to understand, utilize, and express this energy for the continuous maintenance of well-being. (Still, 1908).
My treatment style lends it gratitude to the late Dr. James Jealous, D.O. He was a pioneer in the osteopathic community. He brought forth the knowledge of the intrinsic biodynamic forces that exist within the body, osteopathic treatment and the world at large. There is an unseen force that pervades all of life and existence. Some call it Qi, Prana, Life force, Breath of Life, Love, Universal intelligence etc. This energy provides the power that is necessary to dissolve the strain and the pattern that is holding the dysfunction.
