Osteopathy — understanding the body as a whole

What is osteopathy?

Osteopathy is a form of manual treatment. Assessment and treatment are carried out mainly using the hands.

This includes assessing how freely joints and tissues move, where tension is increased and how different parts of the body respond to one another.

A central principle of osteopathy is the relationship between structure and function. When the movement of a structure, or the load placed on it, changes, other areas may respond by compensating.

It can therefore be useful to examine more than just the area where a symptom is felt.

Why examine the whole body?

For example, lower back symptoms may involve not only the lumbar spine, but also the pelvis, hips, sacrum, diaphragm or surrounding muscles and fascia.

With neck symptoms, the thoracic spine, shoulder girdle, jaw or overall posture may be relevant.

Which connections actually matter varies from person to person. This is why osteopathic treatment begins with an assessment rather than a predetermined treatment routine.

What does an osteopathic assessment involve?

We begin by discussing your current symptoms, how they have developed, and any relevant illnesses, injuries, operations or other health factors.

This is followed by a physical examination. It may include an assessment of posture, active and passive movement, joint function, muscle tension and the mobility of different tissues.

Depending on your symptoms, orthopaedic or neurological examination techniques may also be used.

Recognising warning signs and contraindications is another important part of the assessment. Osteopathic treatment is not appropriate for every complaint. If there is reason to suspect a condition that needs further medical investigation, that takes priority.

Gentle and direct techniques

Osteopathic treatment can take different forms.

Some techniques are very gentle, using minimal force and following the movement available in the tissues.

Others are more direct and more noticeable to the patient. These include joint mobilisation, muscle techniques and, where appropriate after assessment and consideration, a short, targeted manipulative thrust.

The choice depends on the findings, the structure being treated and the patient's individual circumstances.

More force does not automatically mean a more effective treatment. What matters is choosing a technique that is appropriate for the situation.

Structural, visceral and craniosacral approaches

Osteopathy traditionally distinguishes between several approaches.

Structural, or parietal, osteopathy focuses mainly on joints, muscles, fascia and the musculoskeletal system.

Visceral osteopathy considers the mobility of internal organs and their functional relationships with surrounding tissues.

Craniosacral approaches mainly involve very gentle manual techniques around the skull, spine and sacrum.

These approaches may be combined in practice. The individual assessment matters more than the name of any particular technique.

What does self-regulation mean?

Self-regulation is an important concept in osteopathy.

It does not mean that the body can cure every illness on its own, or that osteopathic treatment replaces medical diagnosis and care.

Rather, the body has many mechanisms of its own for regulating its functions. Movement, muscle tone, breathing and the autonomic nervous system continually adapt to internal and external demands.

Osteopathic treatment aims to create favourable conditions for these processes, for example by addressing functional restrictions in movement and easing excessive tissue tension.

What brings patients to my practice?

Patients come to my practice with concerns such as:

• •back, neck or shoulder symptoms;
• •restricted movement and muscle tension;
• •symptoms around the pelvis and sacroiliac joint;
• •jaw symptoms and functional patterns of tension;
• •discomfort following physical overload;
• •functional musculoskeletal complaints.

A whole-body assessment may also be useful for persistent symptoms. In each case, however, it is important to establish whether osteopathic treatment is suitable or whether further medical investigation is needed first.

Osteopathy at my practice in Erfurt

I combine different osteopathic and manual approaches in my work. Depending on the findings, treatment may be very gentle or may include more targeted mobilisation and manipulation techniques.

I do not follow a rigid treatment protocol. My guiding question is:

Which structures are relevant for this person, and what treatment is appropriate in their situation?

My aim is to identify functional connections, reduce unnecessary tension and support mobility, with an individual approach that places as little unnecessary strain on the body as possible.

Important information

Some osteopathic methods fall within complementary medicine. The strength of the scientific evidence varies according to the condition and the method used. Osteopathic treatment does not replace necessary medical assessment or treatment.