Osteopathy

• Whiplash 
• Neck Pain
• Back Pain
• Joint Pain
• Migraines and Headaches
• Fractures
• Sports Injuries
• Sciatica and Disc injuries
• Sprains
• TMJ (Jaw) problems

• Arthritis
• Anxiety
• Scoliosis
• Fibromyalgia
• Post-concussion syndrome
• Head trauma
• Digestive problems
• Respiratory disorders
• Stress, depression and fatigue
• Dizziness

• Vertigo
• Tinnitus
• Bell’s palsy
• Infections
• Terminal Illness
• Urinary incontinence
• Pre and post-operative care
• Menstrual irregularities
• Fertility issues
• Advice may be given on exercises as well as changes to diet and lifestyle.

Visceral Manipulation

What is Visceral Manipulation?

"Viscera" relates to the internal organs of the body, such as the liver, kidneys and intestines. Visceral Manipulation is a gentle manual therapy that aids your body's ability to release restrictions and unhealthy compensations that cause pain and dysfunction. Visceral Manipulation, or VM, does not focus solely on the site of pain or dysfunction, but evaluates the entire body to find the source of the problem.

Josh feels for altered or decreased motion within the viscera, as well as restrictive patterns throughout the body and then applies VM techniques. VM therapy re-establishes the body's ability to adapt and restore itself to health.

Cranial Osteopathy

What is cranial osteopathy?

There are 29 bones in the adult skull that have their own unique predictable movements which are detectable only by a trained practitioner. 

It stimulates healing by using gentle hand pressure to manipulate the skeleton and connective tissues, especially the skull and sacrum (the large, triangular bone at the base of the spinal column).

Cranial osteopathy is used for:

Constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, seizures, scoliosis, migraine headaches, disturbed sleep cycles, asthma, neck pain, sinus infections, TMJ syndrome, Ménière's disease and ear problems, and for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who have experienced birth trauma or head trauma.

Muscle Energy Techniques (MET)

Muscle Energy Techniques are excellent to use in most all treatments. This is when a patient, on request, actively uses their muscles against a distinct counterforce provided by the clinician. These techniques are now widely recognized as an effective approach to the treatment of musculoskeletal dysfunction.

Andrew Taylor Still who developed osteopathy stated: ‘the attempt to restore joint integrity before smoothingly restoring muscle and ligamentous normality was putting the cart before the horse.’

There is a steady evolution is taking place in manipulative therapy involving a movement away from fast thrust methods (a characteristic of most chiropractic and until recently much osteopathic manipulation), towards a more gentle approach. Gentle approaches tend to emphasize the soft tissue component of pain and dysfunction rather than always employing high-velocity thrust manipulation.

Counterstrain

Counterstrain is a technique used by osteopaths to promote a spontaneous release of tissues by specific positioning the body. Originally, it was called “Spontaneous Release by Positioning,” and later termed “strain-counterstrain.” 

In this technique, a point of maximum pain is identified, referred to as a tender point. Monitoring the tender point, the osteopath positions the patient to maximally relieve the tender point's discomfort. Then the patient is held in the maximally relaxed position for a period of time to break the reflex cycle of hypertonic (tight) tissue. Once the technique is completed, relaxation results in restoration of range of motion and resolution of the tender point dysfunction.

Ligamentous Articular Strain

These osteopathic techniques are used when it is necessary to carry the injured part back to the exact position of injury. Once there, the body will begin to correct itself and rebalance all the connective tissues surrounding the injury. 

LAS as it is often referred to, is used in combination with other techniques to enhance the treatments effectiveness and give the body additional stimulation to activate the body's innate healing abilities.

Oscillatory Technique

Oscillation vibration rhythmic motion have been intuitively used by many practitioners to promote healing since the beginning of osteopathic practice. One type of oscillatory technique is referred to as harmonic movements; which are the sequences of rhythmic, cyclic movements found in nature and also in man. The swinging movements of a pendulum or a spring are harmonic movements are examples of this type of motion. Harmonic techniques influence the circulation of fluids and have a direct effect on the movement of the lymph (toxins in the body), blood, and influence the “trans-synovial pump” mechanism. The movement is beneficial to the tissue repair mechanism and alleviates pain – just think what happens to a segment maintained immobile for too long. It encourages stretching of overly short tissues and fascias.

Myofascial Release

Myofascial release is based on the idea that poor posture, physical injury, illness, and emotional stress can throw the body out of alignment and cause its intricate web of fascia to become taut and constricted. Because fascia links every organ and tissue in the body together, skillful hands free up, or "release," disruptions in this fascial network. Pressure on the bones, muscles, joints, and nerves is relieved in the process, and balance is restored.

By freeing up fascial adhesions the body's innate restorative powers are improved by improving circulation and nervous system transmission.

Myofascial release is used to treat a wide array of painful ailments affecting the muscles and connective tissues. These include low back pain, muscle spasms, whiplash injuries, and carpal tunnel syndrome to name just a few.

Geriatrics

Advancing years are often associated with the insidious onset of health problems.

These problems may be varied, and include:

• Osteoarthritis (wear-and-tear)
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Problems with the heart, lungs or other internal organs
• Circulation, especially in the legs
• Effects of operations
• Effects of falls and other accidents
• Problems with teeth and dentures
• General symptoms of declining health

Osteopathic treatment can be effective at releasing the residual strains from past accidents (recent or long ago). This allows the body to function more efficiently.

Many of the problems can be successfully treated or helped by osteopathic treatment.