Osteopathic manipulative therapy for treating injured muscles and joints in ways that promote the body’s natural ability to heal.

The term Osteopathy Therapy may sound like it describes a very complicated medical treatment, but all it is the use of human hands to heal a patient. An osteopathic therapist, or osteopathic physician, will use their hands to stretch and bend your limbs and joints in such a way that you will gain the maximum amount of benefit from this “healing touch”.

Who needs Osteopathy Therapy?

Osteopathic therapy has the potential to help just about anyone. It has been known to help with chronic pain and to make mobility easier for the patient. For this reason, this treatment could be extremely helpful to the elderly, aiding them with joint pain and arthritis, and making day to day life just a bit easier to move through. People with asthma, carpal tunnel, or even something as simple as menstrual cramps have also been helped by this type of treatment. This is also an excellent alternative for those who do not want to be treated with drugs and medications, as it involves nothing but the hands of your therapist.

What to Expect

You may be wondering what exactly will happen when you go to your first appointment. Many people expect that it will be like a session with a chiropractor, but this is not so. Chiropractic treatment focuses on the spine and neck primarily, while this will focus on your entire body. Your first appointment will not be the same as subsequent ones. It will consist of up to two hours of your doctor examining you and determining exactly what should be done to help you. They will check the health of your joints, ligaments, and muscles, and then come up with a treatment plan with you. If you feel sore after this, or after your first couple of real sessions, do not worry. This is only a result of the physical touches, and it happens because your body is not yet used to this type of treatment.

Possible Risks

Like all good things, there are some potential risks that come with osteopathic therapy. As I said earlier, you may sometimes feel sore or stiff after treatment. It is uncommon, but some elderly patients have experienced severe pain, numbness, and even fractured ribs if they have osteoporosis. There are also very rare occurrences that will sound scary, but do not let them put you off entirely. In very rare cases, patients have reported nerve damage, strokes, bladder weakness, and even a prolapsed disk. Let me reiterate, these are extremely rare cases and will most likely not happen if you decide to be treated.

If you are experiencing pain, stiffness, even insomnia, this could be the perfect treatment for you. Just remember to find a doctor that is right for you, that you feel comfortable with because they will be very intimate with your bones and joints. Also, do not be discouraged by the possible risks, or if you do not feel amazing after your first session, because this may take time to show lasting results. Try out osteopathic therapy, because you never know how worthwhile it might be.