Osteopathy is a complementary or alternative therapy and it treats a wide variety of conditions that are related to the muscles, the joints and the skeletal structure. Patients who visit Osteopathy in Kennington often have problems such as back pain, neck stiffness and neck or shoulder pain, sports injuries, whiplash injuries or problems with posture. Osteopaths can also treat pelvic pain, arthritis, migraines and headaches or issues with the menstrual cycle such as irregular or painful periods.
How Does Osteopathy Work?
Osteopathy is based on the idea that a person’s health is connected to the health of the muscles, the bones, the connective tissue and the ligaments. In a healthy person these should be functioning smoothly and working together. Osteopathy uses physical manipulations, massage and stretching to increase the range of movement in the joints, to relieve muscle tension and to release muscle spasms, to improve blood circulation to the tissues and to help the body to heal from injuries.
What Happens in an Osteopathy Treatment?
When you visit an osteopath for the first time, your osteopath will ask questions about your health, your injuries, your medical history and your lifestyle. He will then assess your problem or your injury and devise a treatment plan. A treatment can include massage, manual manipulation of muscles and joints, and stretching or other passive exercises. The purpose of the manipulation techniques is to release tension and muscles spasms, to improve mobility and to relieve pain and stiffness. Osteopathic manipulations are not painful although some techniques can feel slightly uncomfortable as tension is released.
Every patient is treated as an individual and will have a personal treatment plan. Sometimes just one treatment is enough but sometimes it is necessary to return for a course of treatments. An osteopath can also give you exercises to do at home or tips for improving your posture and preventing further injuries.
What Are the Benefits of Osteopathy?
Some benefits from an osteopathy treatment include relief from pain, increase in mobility, removal of the underlying cause of pain, a better posture and a decrease in pain and stiffness in the joints and in the muscles. Anyone can benefit from Osteopathy in Kennington. Osteopaths treat people in all age groups including children and the elderly. Many professional sports people seek help from osteopathy for sports injuries. Pregnant women often find that osteopathy helps to relieve lower back pain and other pregnancy-related health issues.
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