To see an alphabetical site map click here

• Questions and Answers About Osteopathy
  Do I have to be referred for osteopathic treatment? General practice doctors can refer patients to osteopathic medicine and those who practice osteopathic medicine (O.D.s) do work with other medical professionals on occasion. Anyone at anytime can schedule an appointment to be seen at an osteopathic clinic with or without a referral from their medical doctor. Do Insurance companies cover osteopathic medicine? Yes, most major insurance carriers will cover osteopathic healthcare. It is best to check with your insurance company for specifics on your coverage before scheduling an appointment.
  
  
  • Arthritis and Osteopathy
    Even though nothing can be done to undo the damage already done by arthritis osteopathic treatment can help to reduce the pain, swelling, and improve mobility and range of motion of each joint involved. Osteopathic treatment can help with neck pain, low back pain and swelling, hip pain and lack of mobility, and early morning stiffness. The treatment's goal is to improve the mobility and to reduce the swelling by using gentle, manual osteopathic techniques on each of the affected joints, on muscles, and also on ligaments. Exercises at home in warm water or salt baths may be suggested as well as other exercises and lifestyle changes designed to improve function and reduce pain.
    
    
  • Back Pain and Osteopathy
    Lower back pain is more common than upper back pain. Those that suffer from upper back pain can experience the pain anywhere between the lower back and the neck. Causes for upper back pain can be poor posture, overuse of muscles, or an injury to the upper back. Sometimes we are injured because of poor carrying postures, bending, throwing, or twisting incorrectly. If we cough or sneeze vigorously we can also experience upper back pain. Did you know that prolonged sitting could also cause upper back pain from the reduced blood flow to muscles from the reduced movements as we sit all day? When the muscles lack blood flow they begin to tighten and feel like rope.
    
    
  • Osteopathy An Approach to Healthcare
    There are principles that are followed by those who practice osteopathy and include that the body is a unit, and that the structure and function of the body is inter-related, and that the body has self-regulatory mechanisms that allow the body to defend and repair itself. Osteopathic principles also state that environmental changes can overcome the body's ability for self maintenance, and when this happens disease occurs and that the nerves have a critical role in the controlling of fluids in the body, and that there are components to disease that manifest and contribute to the disease state in the body.
    
    
  • Pregnancy and Osteopathy
    Osteopathy can also ease other side effects of pregnancy such as heartburn, indigestion, constipation, and also sciatic pain. Moms have also noted that after their osteopathic treatments they notice fewer bouts of morning sickness. The entire list of pregnancy complaints that osteopathic treatment can help relieve include lower back and leg pain, neck and shoulder pain, indigestion and discomfort around the thorax area, wrist pain, any issues with the coccyx after delivery, and relaxation of soft tissue and supporting muscles and ligaments.
    
    
  • OsteopathyThe Drug-Free Non-invasive Manual Medicine
    Most of us lead more sedentary lives as we age. This leads to a decreased amount of exercise. Osteopaths can direct sedentary patients to do stretching exercises, learn new lifting techniques, and how to posture their bodies and breath in a way that will maintain good health and relieve stress. Early intervention in lifestyle can improve health and reduce the cost of healthcare.
    
    
  • The Manual Medicine Known as Osteopathy
    Osteopaths encourage patients to take responsibility for their health by identifying issues in the workplace that may contribute to pain or discomfort and to reduce or eliminate them by making the workplace more ergonomically pleasing, and by teaching patients about proper posture, and how to put less strain on their bodies at home, and also by teaching relaxation techniques to reduce stress that can contribute to disease, and by assisting patients to work with dieticians, occupational therapist and other healthcare workers where needed.
    
    
  • Understanding the Belief System of Osteopathic Medicine
    Osteopathy is particularly effective when back, neck or shoulder pain is present, or when the individual suffers from headaches or migraines, it can also aid those who suffer from arthritis, or who have sustained sports injuries, or are experiencing the changes in posture brought on by pregnancy. In its beginning stages Osteopathy was seen as a radical concept and rejected by traditionalists. Today, osteopathic medicine is considered to be very much a part of mainstay medicine and no longer considered to be an alternative medicine.
    
    
  • Conditions That Can be Treated With Osteopathy
    Osteopathic treatment of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis has the purpose of improving stiffness and restoring joint mobility at the same time as reducing swelling and pain. Through osteopathy treatment it is often possible to decrease reliance on medications reducing the possible side effects of using these medications. The process of being born is often a traumatic one in which a huge amount of stress can be placed on the small body. There is a large amount of contractile pressure being placed on the baby's body during the birth process. Common reasons why babies and young children are seen by osteopathy are infant colic, constant crying, reflux or regurgitation of stomach contents, misshapen head, sleep difficulties, constipation, feeding problems and for a normal post partum check up.
    
    
  • Who Uses Osteopathy
    Individuals who may approach an osteopathic Doctor may be those suffering from headaches, joint pain, traumatic injury, overuse syndromes, neck or back pain, digestive disorders, neurological syndromes, seizures, learning disorders, cerebral palsy, birth trauma, delayed development, asthma, allergies, ear infections, sore throats, frequent colds, sinusitis, and also bronchitis. Patients come to osteopathic doctors to treat pediatric problems, somatic pain, and systemic problems, issues connected to pregnancy, respiratory illnesses and ear, nose and throat issues.