Osteopathy and cranial osteopathy

20 September, 2011

Osteopathy is a system of diagnosis and treatment that corrects imbalances in certain structure of the body. Osteopaths are trained to ‘feel’ disruptions in your muscles, bones and ligaments. They then use a variety of techniques, including manipulation, massage and stretching, to restore balance and encourage the healing process.

Cranial osteopathy is a refined and subtle type of osteopathic treatmnet. It is a gentle treatment that benefits a wide range of conditions and ages, from the newborn to the elderly.

Cranial osteopaths are trained to feel a very subtle, rhythmical shape change that is present in all body tissue, this is called the cranial rhythm.

What conditions is it used for?

Osteopathy is widely recognised as a treatment for: aches and pains; arthritic, back, joint and rheumatic pain; backache; muscle spasms; circulatory and digestive problems; cramp; lumbago; fibromyalgia; neuralgia; inability to relax and minor sports injuries. For certain conditions, treatments can be more effective when combined with another therapy. Ask your practitioner for their recommendation.

What to expect

Your osteopath will begin with a detailed consultation, and will be interested to see any relevant X-rays or blood test results. They will ask you to perform some simple movements and feel for any points of weakness or excessive strain in the body, before using the most suitable massage, rhythmic joint movement, stretching and gentle release techniques to address these. The treatment will also include advice on posture and exercise.