A common question I often get asked is: "๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐โ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ณ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ป ๐ผ๐๐๐ฒ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐๐ต๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ (๐ค๐ฉ๐ช๐ณ๐ฐ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ข๐ค๐ต๐ช๐ค, ๐ฑ๐ฉ๐บ๐ด๐ช๐ฐ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ข๐ฑ๐บ, ๐ฎ๐ข๐ด๐ด๐ข๐จ๐ฆ, ๐ฆ๐ต๐ค.)?โฃ"
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Although there is some overlap between many manual therapy professions, hereโs what sets osteopathy apart:โฃ
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Osteopathy views the patient as a whole, which means not only examining and treating the symptomatic area, but taking a look at the bigger picture to identify potential contributing factors in order to better understand contributing factors to symptoms.โฃ
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Rather than actively pressing or imposing force onto a body structure (whether it be a joint or soft tissue), osteopathy uses gentle techniques in which the practitioner โ๐ฅ๐ช๐ข๐ญ๐ฐ๐จ๐ถ๐ฆ๐ดโ with the patient & their body to see what approach yields the best amount of relaxation/ release/ softening/ mobility. โฃ
If the body tenses up or โfights backโ, we change our approach. Think of it as working together rather than forcefully trying to move a tissue or joint. In this respect, osteopathy is very gentle & safe, yet comfortable and typically very relaxing . โฃ
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Techniques can be specific or global, addressing a single joint or sore spot, or take more of a global approach encompassing working on a linked connection, for example, in the case of carpal tunnel syndrome, treating along a neural pathway from, say, the neck, down the arm to the hand, while addressing joint mobility and tissue tension. โฃ
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Osteopathic practitioners are well trained in anatomy & physiology and consider the various interrelationships within the body, including the embryological development & connections. โฃ
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Keep in mind that within similar professions, individual practitioners may have different approaches based on when & where they studied, their personal preferences and clinical experiences, continuing education interests, and beliefs & biases.โฃ
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It can be difficult to put into words to describe what a hands-on treatment feels like, best way to find out is to give it a try for yourself and see!โฃ
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