Osteopathy is a predominantly manual diagnostic and therapeutic concept that dates back to the US physician Andrew Taylor Still (1828-1917). It refers to the diagnosis and therapy of functional disorders of any kind and is based on a holistic view and treatment of the human body. According to Still, disorders and movement restrictions of the fascia and joints can also trigger symptoms in other organs and body regions. The osteopath examines and treats the person with his or her hands. The Association of German Osteopathic Physicians (BDOÄ) has applied to the German Medical Association (BÄK) for osteopathic medicine (OM) as an additional training.
Indications (areas of application)
- Acute low back pain (“low back pain, LBP).
- Chronic pelvic pain syndrome in men (CPPS) (patients who did not have infection or cancer)
- Disc prolapse (herniated disc).
- Lumbago / dorsalgia (back pain)
- Tension
- Injuries to bones and muscles, especially as a result of accidents.
- Other diseases such as:
- Migraine
- Irritable bowel syndrome (irritable colon)
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
Contraindications
- Acute inflammation
- Febrile diseases
- Thrombosis (vascular disease in which a blood clot (thrombus, blood clot) forms in a blood vessel).
- Spontaneous hematoma formation (bruising)/coagulation disorders.
- Infectious tuberculosis
- Prolonged corticosteroid treatment with osteoporosis (bone loss).
- Lumbaralgia (back pain in the lumbar spine) with deficient mono- or polyradiculopathy (acute irritation or damage to a nerve root with deficits; severe neurologic disease)
- Neoplasms (neoplasms) of the spine (primary (e.g., osteosarcoma) or secondary tumors (e.g., bone metastases) [to the extent that the spine is the site of treatment]
- Acute inflammatory rheumatism
- Post-traumatic instability (after an injury)
The procedure
The basis of osteopathy is a holistic view. The human body is considered as a whole with all its units, interrelationships and endogenous forces. Thus, all important functions are related to each other. If a function of the body is disturbed, this can on the one hand have a variety of effects on completely different areas of the body, and on the other hand the actual functional disturbances can manifest themselves in a completely foreign way and are therefore difficult to recognize. This is where osteopathy can help. Through a detailed patient interview, the most important information such as location, temporal occurrence and description of the symptoms of the dysfunction are first determined. These findings are supplemented by the results of various examinations such as posture and movement tests or physical examinations. Using the information obtained about the location and nature of the dysfunction, the osteopath can apply different techniques to correct the health limitations and symptoms. The therapy is performed in several sessions.
Possible complications
- Short-term exacerbation of symptoms (initial worsening).
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Muscle ache similar to
- Extremely rare complications (1:400,000-1:2,000,000):
- Intracerebral hemorrhage (brain hemorrhage).
- Apoplexy (stroke)
- Damage to the spinal cord
Other notes
- Acute low back pain: parietal OMT manipulations are successful in acute low back pain.
- Irritable bowel (irritable colon): small improvement in symptoms regarding bloating pain by “visceral OMT”.
Benefits
Without the use of medications and additional surgeries, osteopathy relieves and cures your symptoms, the causes of which are often not clear. Osteopathy gives your body a guide to heal itself naturally.
