OSTEOPATHY

Definition of osteopathy

Osteopathy is a manual practice that treats loss of mobility and tension in the different structures of the human body (joints, viscera, tissues, muscles, etc.).

It helps correct some of these dysfunctions through manipulation and mobilization techniques. Others are regulated naturally through the body's homeostasis. The osteopath works to restore the body's natural capacity for self-regulation.

WHOLE BODY CARE

The osteopath treats the patient as a whole. He or she will test different areas of the body to understand the origin of the pain, as well as the repercussions it may cause. He or she can work on muscles, ligaments, tendons, viscera, or fascia, as everything is interconnected.

It's a bit like when a piece of fabric is knotted: the tension created at one point is felt elsewhere, forming folds—or in the case of the body, pain. But the source of the problem is often far from the point of pain. The osteopath's role is therefore to identify this "knot" in order to correct its origin.

This global approach makes it possible to restore meaning to certain chronic or old pains, by shedding light on them from a new angle.

THE ORIGIN OF PAIN IS NOT ALWAYS OBVIOUS

Back pain, for example, can stem from an old sprain that hasn't been treated. The body, in trying to adapt to reduce stress and pain, ends up creating dysfunctions in different areas (knee, back, etc.). One day, this adaptive capacity is exhausted, and back pain appears. This is why it's important to treat the initial sprain to prevent the pain from recurring.

Through a variety of techniques—from musculoskeletal manipulation to myofascial release—the goal is to relieve tension, restore balance to the body, and help the patient gain a better understanding of their physical health.

Osteopathy can treat common pains such as sciatica, lumbago, stiff neck, and more generally back pain. It can also be beneficial in cases of sprains, stress, or migraines.

Osteopathy doesn't cure everything, of course. It doesn't treat organic pathologies, which are reserved for the medical profession. Rather, it aims to improve quality of life by addressing the consequences of these pathologies: pain, loss of mobility, and tissue tension.

Structural approach in osteopathy

My approach is mainly based on thestructural osteopathy, which focuses on the bone, joint and muscle elements of the body.

The goal is to restore the overall balance of the body by correcting mobility restrictions, often responsible for pain or functional imbalances, using joint and muscular techniques.

Much more than manual therapy

Osteopathy is not limited to manipulation techniques. It is also based on a active listening, a relationship of trust and one therapeutic education aimed at empowering the patient.

Understanding lifestyle habits, explaining body mechanisms, and offering concrete advice are all integral parts of the approach. Touch is important, but so are words.