Soft Tissue Therapy
Manual osteopaths will utilize soft tissue therapy to relieve any adhesions or restrictions in muscle tissue and/or surrounding fascia. Soft tissue therapy allows the manual osteopath to relax surrounding tissue and promote blood flow to the tissue prior to any other modalities.
Osteoarticular Techniques
Osteoarticular techniques are hands-on techniques where the manual osteopath provides a gentle force directly to a joint. This force will mobilize the joint and/or vertebra(e) and promote blood flow to the region. This is often the most common treatment modality used during treatment.
Cranial Osteopathy
Cranial osteopathy, or cranial-sacral treatment is unique method of treatment. The manual osteopath is capable of slowing down the patient’s sympathetic nervous system and encourage proper rhythm throughout the body.
Muscle Energy Techniques (MET)
This is a manual technique using a controlled muscle contraction from the patient against a controlled force. Following the muscle contraction, the manual osteopath will provide a stretch for the patient. METs are beneficial as they both stretch and strengthen muscles; relax muscles, and decrease hypertonicity and muscle spasm; reduce local edema; and reduce the likelihood of future injury.
Visceral Osteopathy
Similar to the locomotor system, visceral organs and tissue have a smooth surface as their external surface is sealed off by a layer of serous skin/membranes. Visceral organs form visceral joints with another organ, or a part of the locomotor system. Organs do not move haphazardly, but are subject to certain laws: they are fastened to each other and to the locomotor system by the mesenteries, omenta, or ligaments. The role of the manual osteopath is to encourage motility and mobility to promote proper function to the organs through the use a of gentle hands-on technique.
Lymphatic Drainage
Lymph nodes are a part of the body’s lymphatic system and contain white blood cells. The Lymph nodes will filter the lymphatic fluid and fight infection prior to the fluid returning to the circulatory system. Lymphatic drainage is a great technique for swelling or localized edema.