Osteopathy: Its Pros and Cons
According to the World Health Organization, about 1.7 billion people in the world suffer from musculoskeletal disorders (e.g., arthritis, tendinitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, osteoporosis, etc.).
Among them, lower back pain is the most prevalent. Aging, activity choice, nutrition, and lifestyle contribute to muscular and skeletal problems.
While many seek medical attention for treatment, I took the path less traveled and tried osteopathy. A year of osteopathy improves not only my troubling back and leg pain but even more so my overall health.
What is Osteopathy?
Osteopathy is a non-invasive, drug-free alternative medicine. It believes in the ability of one’s body to heal itself. Considered a manual therapy, it uses hands for both diagnosis and administering treatment. It targets the spine, tissues, muscles, and joints that make up your musculoskeletal system.
In the process, osteopathy also positively affects other body systems, such as your circulatory, nervous, and lymphatic systems. So besides pain relief, you also correct hormonal imbalances. People even report better quality of sleep.
Why I undertook Osteopathy: Its Benefits
Ultimately, I chose osteopathy because of its non-invasiveness. That means I don’t have to go through stressful procedures that may only increase my muscle tension or cause me anxiety. Plus, it yields the following benefits:
Stress-free Pain Management
Imagine going for a nice massage to treat your annoying arthritis or your debilitating back pain – that was how smooth my osteopathic treatment had been. I didn’t have to worry about painful procedures nor deal with guilt for missing my medicine intake.
Safe for All Ages
Whether you are under 18 or over 65, you can seek osteopathy. Your osteopathic physician will vary the intensity of its hand manipulation techniques according to your age and problem area.
Holistic Treatment
It may focus on your muscles, bones, and joints but it benefits the entire body. It also treats menstrual pain, promotes better sleep, reduces anxiety, and decreases asthma attacks.
I can attest to how osteopathy helped alleviate my chronic back pain and knee pain caused by arthritis. As I went through the osteopathy procedures for several months, I’ve come to regard it not as a treatment but as a lifestyle choice.
It enhances my mood and increases my energy levels. In effect, I’m able to increase work productivity and assume personal and family obligations.
Preventive Nature
Some illnesses have symptoms that remain latent until the condition worsens. Thankfully, osteopathy’s holistic approach to treatment allows you to prevent the worst from happening.
Take my arthritis, for instance. Had it not been for osteopathy, the pain could’ve affected my other body parts, such as my fingers.
So you do not need to wait for your limbs to get broken. You can seek regular osteopathic sessions for preventive care if you like.
Wide Range of Treatment Options
Soft-tissue techniques (e.g., massages, cupping, acupressure) may be the most common osteopathic treatment. Yet osteopathy has a host of treatment options, depending on the problem area.
For instance, I had dry needling for my lower back pain. It uses thread-like needles to treat muscle tension. Then there’s exercise therapy that uses controlled body movements for rehabilitation and relapse prevention. Treatments vary according to your need, so I suggest you make an initial consultation with a click here.
What Should I Re-Consider About Osteopathy: The Downsides
Osteopathy cannot fix broken bones or serious illnesses that require surgical procedures. It is not a miracle therapy, contrary to popular belief. In some instances, it may not be recommended for patients at all, lest it aggravates the inflammation or infection.
I was wise to seek my physician’s approval before engaging in osteopathy, which works quite well as a complementary treatment.
Side effects such as soreness may last for a day or two. Be wary of the recovery time as well. Some people respond fast to treatment in weeks, while others take several months to a year before significant improvements happen (as in my case).
I am well aware that osteopathy may not even lead to full recovery, particularly for serious conditions. But it is worth giving a try, as I have nothing to lose. I followed the recommended precautions and used osteopathy in conjunction with my medical doctor’s advice.
You, too, will reap maximum health benefits if you seek 360 feedback.