MANUAL OSTEOPATHY TREATMENT IN MISSISSAUGA, ETOBICOKE, OAKVILLE & BURLINGTON
Manual Osteopathy is a form of hands on therapy that focuses on eliminating pain and restoring function by addressing the root cause of the pain, injury or imbalance. The philosophy of osteopathy is based on the following principles:
- The movement of body fluid is essential to the maintenance of health.
- The nerves play a crucial role in controlling the fluids of the body.
- The body is a unit.
- Structure and function are interrelated.
- The body is self-regulating.
- The body is designed to defend and heal itself.
- When the body’s ability to adapt is disrupted, the integrity of the internal environment is lost, and self-maintenance disintegrates.
Rational treatment is based on these principles.
When a person sees a manual osteopath at PhysioNow, the practitioner will assess the whole person, not just the painful area. An initial assessment will begin with a detailed health history, followed by a postural and gait analysis as the therapist looks for any imbalances or misalignments of the body. Manual palpation is used in conjunction with orthopaedic and neurological tests to get an idea of what the major issues are and to begin to form a treatment plan. It is important to conduct a head to toe analysis, as the primary cause of the ailment may not be where the person is experiencing the symptoms. A misalignment in one area of the body can lead to a chain reaction of compensations that ultimately ends up in pain in a completely different area. This shows how connected the body is, and how optimizing structural balance allows the body to function better.
A manual osteopath at PhysioNow uses many different techniques to treat the imbalances they may find in their initial assessment. These can include:
- joint mobilizations,
- muscle energy techniques and
- soft tissue therapy
Gentle joint mobilizations are used to stretch and move the soft tissue around a joint to increase range of motion and to help reduce pain, inflammation, and muscle spasm. Muscle energy techniques are used to stretch and lengthen tight muscles. Soft tissue techniques are used to release trigger points, reduce tone in a muscle or ligament, and stretch tight fascia. The therapist will also assign corrective exercises that the client can do to help maintain the corrections achieved during the treatment. The main goal of applying these techniques is to put the body into proper alignment, correct imbalances, and allow for optimal range of motion. Since structure governs function, when the bone structures are in the correct position and the soft tissues are the proper length, the body is able to function as it was designed to do. Blood and lymphatic fluid are able to more freely circulate around the body and the nerves are able to fire properly as they are not being compressed by misaligned or tight structures. When this is achieved, the body is able to self-regulate and has the ability to defend and heal itself.
Book an appointment with Richard Haddad (DOMP) for a manual osteopathy treatment at PhysioNow today.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is manual osteopathy different from physiotherapy and/or massage therapy?
While manual osteopathy and physiotherapy may share some similarities like the conditions that they can address, the treatment principles behind each profession is different. Osteopathy is a very hands-on profession that emphasizes the body’s ability to heal itself. It believes that the systems are all dependent on each other and aims to correct any imbalances or disturbances that prevent the body from maintaining itself. For example, if your primary complaint is neck pain, a manual osteopathy may still assess the other parts of the body like the limbs or the lower body to assess if they are contributing to your pain.
Will my insurance cover manual osteopathy?
Yes, many private health insurances in Canada will cover manual osteopathy such as Canada Life, Manulife, Green Shield, Sunlife and more. Most extended health care plans will cover a maximum amount in the year, and/or a maximum amount per session. As coverage will be different depending on each individual’s policy, we recommend that you check with your insurance to confirm the details.
Do I need a doctor’s referral to see a Manual Osteopath?
No, you do not require a Dr’s referral first. We can take self-referrals and you are more than welcome to book an appointment to discover what manual osteopathy is about. However, if you have an acute or chronic medical condition that is of concern, your professional may refer you for medical clearance first. What conditions or who may benefit from osteopathic treatment?
Manual osteopaths can treat a wide variety of conditions due to their holistic way of treatment. For example, headaches, postural issues, overuse injuries, mobility issues, acute or chronic musculoskeletal pain, TMJ pain, sports injuries and more. In every condition, your manual osteopath will assess the root cause of the issue and work with you to restore any structural imbalances detected.
What can I expect in a treatment session of manual osteopathy?
Your manual osteopathy will use a gentle hands-on approach of the whole body to first assess, and then treat you. There are many different techniques used in manual osteopathy and the ones used will also vary with each individual practitioner. Some examples include soft tissue manipulation, muscle energy techniques, fascial release, manual lymphatic drainage, visceral manipulation, cranial-sacral techniques, osteoarticular technique. Back 
