The Osteopathic Care

Osteopathy is a system of alternative medicine that identifies importance of the interrelationship between function and the structure of the body. An Osteopathic Manual Practitioner considers the muscles, the skeleton, joints, nerves, organs, and tissues as a holistic unit.

By using manual techniques, an Osteopathic Manual Practitioner can treat various types of dysfunctions in the body. The osteopathic treatment helps patients improve their mobility, aids in relieving pain, and restoring their overall health.

Before treatment can begin, it is important to take a thorough medical history of the patient, including a detailed description of any past traumatic events. Both trauma and illness can disturb the tissues and alter their function. As the tissues twist, compress and contract - fluid continuity becomes compromised, and normal physiology is impaired. If left untreated, this altered tissue function can remain present throughout a person's life, long after the disruptive influence has passed.

An Osteopathic Manual Practitioner learns through touch. A structural exam can be performed sitting, standing or lying down. Wearing loose, comfortable clothing allows the practitioner to optimally evaluate areas of bony asymmetry, tissue texture abnormalities, and fluid congestion. The Osteopathic Manual Practitioner will typically place his hands underneath or over some part of the body.

Symptoms, pain, and dysfunctions can occur in areas of the body distant from the cause. Thus Osteopathic Manual Practitioners look for, and treat all of the areas that are restricted in movement, including the painful parts. Osteopathic practitioners have a range of manual therapy techniques that are used depending on the individual needs of each person. This helps change symptom patterns and dysfunctions that are often not easily addressed by conventional or allopathic medicines.

Treatment is typically gentle, usually very little force is used during treatment, but at times some force may be necessary. Each patient's experience is unique, some patients sense only a gentle touch, while others feel their body change immediately. Some patients simply feel a deep sense of relaxation, and others may feel nothing at all. Most patients feel a distinct change following the treatment. Though Osteopathy is very gentle, patients can occasionally experience some discomfort during certain stages of the treatment. When this occurs, it is simply a part of the healing process. As the treatment progresses, the discomfort subsides.

Osteopathic Fees

Adult:

• 1 hour initial assessment - $140

• Subsequent treatment session - $120

  Child:

• 1 hour initial assessment and subsequent treatments - $120

  Please remember that the full fee will be charged for any missed appointments or cancellations with less than 24 hours notice.

  Payment is due after each appointment.

  As a member of the Ontario Association of Osteopathic Manual Practitioners, your extended health coverage may cover osteopathy.