adults
Backaches – acute and chronic
Each of us has experienced ailments related to aching back at least once in our lives. They are most often referred to as sciatica, rootlets, lumbago, and back pain syndrome. They affect different age groups because they can occur in adolescents, adults or the elderly. The pain may appear suddenly (shortly after other activities than usual, or after a sudden, single movement). It can also develop over time, without any tangible, specific reason. As for the area of its occurrence, it can occur within the lumbar spine and/or radiate to the abdomen, groin, pelvic floor or lower limbs.
In such cases, pharmacotherapy with analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects is standard practice. From many years of experience in working with this type of patients I know that if it does not bring the expected results, it is recommended to perform imaging tests for further diagnostics (e.g. X-ray – x-ray, magnetic resonance imaging). Unfortunately, in most cases, they primarily show changes at the level of the intervertebral discs of the aching area, which need not be directly related to clinical symptoms. Also, for me, as osteopaths, they are not useful for at least two reasons: firstly – they refer mainly to a fragment of the spine without taking into account the surrounding structures, and secondly – they only talk about statics and do not take into account the dynamic behavior of the area in which they occur ailments. Therefore, they are not a prerequisite for starting osteopathic therapy, which can also be implemented during periods of severe ailments.
From an osteopathic point of view, back pain, regardless of the cause and duration, ALWAYS limits the freedom of functioning. Osteopathic management in a safe and gentle way is able to restore the natural possibilities of movement of areas of the body that seem to be completely unrelated to the place of pain, e.g. in the abdominal area (more in: What does an osteopath do?). An indication for the implementation of osteopathic management is all clinical conditions manifested by the occurrence of back pain with and without radiation to the lower extremities. Especially in situations where the use of pharmacotherapy is limited or inadvisable (e.g. pregnant women).
Pain in the musculoskeletal system – post-traumatic, after sports injuries
Pain is a signal from the body that protects us from the potential threat arising from daily activities. This is a kind of warning: “Don’t move me in this way.” Its intensity depends on how we react to these signals and whether the nervous system obtains the intended effects. It can be stated that this is always associated with mobility restrictions.
The reasons for restrictions on free movement are different, but the decisive factor having the greatest impact on the quality of body functioning is time. The time that “forces” the body to perform the simplest activities of everyday life in conditions other than “factory settings”. The reasons for restrictions on free movement are different, but the decisive factor having the greatest impact on the quality of body functioning is time. The time that “forces” the body to perform the simplest activities of everyday life in conditions other than “factory settings”. It may happen that any injuries from the past, long forgotten, can be the cause of continuous, lasting, incorrect stimulation of the nervous system. In contrast, injuries that occur during various types of physical activity almost immediately force you to take action to restore the ability to function before the injury. Regardless of the time, it is necessary to function in changed conditions, even a small local injury affects the whole body.
As an osteopath, by searching for tissue limitations in their displacement and eliminating them, I can lead to a situation in which the body, in the fastest possible time, returns to the “settings” before the injury. (More in: What does an osteopath do?).
Recommendations
- conditions after ankle sprains – acute and habitual
- after orthopedic surgery – arthroplasty, ligament reconstruction
- after “whiplash” communication injuries
- preparing the body for intense efforts – triathlon, marathon
Functional diseases of the digestive system
Situations in which the ailments do not result from changes in the tissue structure (such as e.g. break in their continuity) should be defined as functional. From the osteopathic point of view, every structure that creates our body requires proper “fuel” (optimal nutrition) and adequate space for movement to perform its proper work. If any of these factors is changed, the consequence of this may be the malfunctioning of the body as a whole.
In a simplified manner, we can say that what we eat enters the stomach and from there sets off on a further journey through the digestive system until expulsion. For the smooth movement of food content in the intestines, it must have the ability to move freely in the abdominal space. It depends on the behavior of the structures responsible for the spatial system of intestines in the abdomen, i.e. connective tissue as well as, among others from the freedom of movement of the chest, which has a huge impact on balancing pressures in the body cavities. It is extremely important to note that the limitation of the proper functioning of the digestive system in many patients leads to the appearance of back pains.
In the situations of this type, osteopathic work allows you to improve the synchronized work of all elements relative to each other by restoring the possibility of their proper movement within the body space. (What does an osteopath do?).
Recommendations:
- the feeling of fullness, “overflowing” in the stomach
- bloating, constipation
- stomach pain
- scars after abdominal surgery
Functional diseases of the circulatory and respiratory system
The circulatory system ensures the flow and supply of blood to every cell of our body. The heart and blood vessels particularly require adequate space for free movement. This conditions their immediate surroundings, i.e. connective tissue. In addition, the physiological movement of the chest as a whole (ribs, thoracic spine, sternum, shoulder girdle, diaphragm work) has a huge impact on the work of the circulatory system. And it is well known that the better the functioning of the chest, the better the breathing.
From an osteopathic point of view, proper, unrestrained work of the chest significantly affects the facilitation of the heart and fluid movement throughout the body. Each inhalation creates a negative pressure in the chest cavity, which causes the intake of fluid. The result is an easier return of blood from the periphery to the heart and increased throughput, especially in the venous system, and better gas exchange efficiency between the lungs and the blood.
Therefore, as an osteopath, I can change the symptoms indicating functional disorders of the circulatory and respiratory system
(What does an osteopath do?).
Recommendations:
- stabilized conditions after cardiac surgery – e.g. by-pass
- mobilization of scars after cardiac surgery
- chest breathing restrictions
- varicose veins, hematomas, edema
Each element of our body requires proper space for movement to function properly. This also applies to organs that are part of the urological system – kidneys, ureters, bladder. Due to the fact that they are located in the abdominal and pelvic space, osteopathic work related to the improvement of fluid flow and elasticity of tissues responsible for the freedom of movement of internal organs is absolutely basic from the osteopathic point of view.
In addition, osteopathic management of all types of infections (especially recurring) of the urological system should be carried out as an adjunct to pharmacological treatment.
Recommendations:
- pollakiuria
- recurring infections
- urinary incontinence – stress and/or stress-induced
Functional diseases of the gynecological system
- premenstrual syndrome; painful menstruation; menstrual disorders (irregular, heavy)
- endocrine disorders
- infertility (functional, idiopathic)
- dyspareunia (painful intercourse)
- functional ovarian cysts, fibroids, endometriosis
- pelvic pain syndrome:
- vulvodynia – vulva and vaginal soreness
- recurrent vulvovaginal infections
- chronic and recurrent adnexitis
- ailments during menopause (disorders of statics of the genital organ – lowering, accidental symptoms):
- urinary incontinence – stress and/or stress-induced
- mobilization of postoperative scars
