Osteopathy in Waterdown

Appointments can vary based on the length of the treatment time as well as the complexity of the client’s health condition. All appointments are unique and individualized to treat each client’s unique pain pattern; as no two people are alike, neither is their pain.

Your first appointment is one hour in length which allows for an initial intake and a visual and physical assessment, as well as manual therapy. The manual therapy aims to address the dysfunctions identified in the assessment. The client’s treatment plan also includes corrective exercises and stretches, which are typically recommended at the completion of the appointment to be done at home and are intended to enhance the effects of the in-clinic treatment.

Subsequent appointments, which are either 30 minutes or one hour in length, will begin with a brief re-assessment of the condition(s) followed by an extensive hands-on osteopathic manual treatment targeted to your concerns.

Osteopathy’s gentle, non-invasive approach means that just about anyone can benefit from osteopathic care. Treatments are safe, relaxing, and effective and clients often report a feeling of increased energy, better sleep and an overall improvement in wellness.

People who develop repetitive strain injuries and chronic pain due to physical labour, office work or athletic injuries commonly benefit from regular osteopathic appointments. As well, individuals who experience functional health issues such as digestive disorders and tinnitus may also experience relief from treatments. Commonly treated conditions include, but are not limited to the following:

• Back and neck pain
• Headaches
• TMJ (Temporomandibular joint disorders)
• Shoulder, elbow, and wrist pain
• Hip, knee, and ankle pain
• Plantar fasciitis
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Digestive issues (such as IBS)
• Chronic pain and inflammation
• Nerve impingement like sciatica
• Overuse injuries
• Decreased mobility
• Postural imbalances

Craniosacral therapy (CST) can evaluate and enhance the functioning of the craniosacral system — the structural aspect of the central nervous system — consisting of the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord. Through gentle, non-invasive hands-on therapy, CST seeks to identify and release deeply held tension within the body to promote the relief of dysfunction and pain, allowing for improvement of whole body health and performance.

During a CST treatment, the osteopathic practitioner will use a soft touch and tiny movements, sustained for many minutes, to release restrictions in the fascial tissues, with focus typically placed at the skull, spine, and pelvis. Removing these restrictions can allow for the CSF to return to its optimal physiological flow.

The body is constantly compensating due to the stressors, both mental and physical, that day-to-day life places upon it. These compensations force certain body tissues to twist and tighten which can distort the craniosacral system. These distortions can lead to restrictions and barriers within the craniosacral system and may impede the flow of CSF, ultimately affecting the operation of the central nervous system and potentially other systems it interacts with. In other words, where symptoms are felt may be caused by dysfunctions elsewhere.

By normalizing the environment around the brain and spinal cord, CST helps to restore the body’s natural rhythm and self-healing abilities. It is thus often used as a preventive health approach and can be particularly helpful for managing pain and promoting relaxation. Additionally, CST may also help to address numerous other issues, including but not limited to:

Visceral manipulation involves the gentle manipulation of the fascia and ligaments surrounding pelvic and abdominal organs such as the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas, and is thought to assist functional and structural imbalances in the body, including musculoskeletal, nervous, vascular, urogenital, respiratory, digestive, and lymphatic dysfunction.

A physical restriction to the viscera can result from physical trauma such as a slip or fall, motor vehicle accident, or surgery, and may be caused by other traumas such as pregnancy and delivery, gut infections, poor posture, and emotional stress.

Visceral manipulation seeks to assess and treat the mobility and motility of a client’s organs and determine whether it is a driving force behind their pain, alignment, or mobility issues. As an adjunctive approach, it helps address clients’ problems that seem to run deeper than their muscles and bones by providing a link between somatic structures, like muscles and joints, visceral organs, and the sympathetic nervoussystem.

Conditions benefited by visceral osteopathy: