Manual Osteopaths seek to address the root cause of pain or illness, and relieve chronic pain. The practice of Manual Osteopathy encourages the body to heal itself and rely less on medication. Here are some benefits of Manual Osteopathy

• Increases range of motion in the joints
• Reduces pain and stiffness in joints
• Qualitatively and gently treats spinal problems resulting from poor posture or spinal disk injuries
• Relieves chronic pain through non-invasive treatment
• Decreases joint stress
• Reduces tension in the body
• Relieves tension headaches and migraine headaches
• Helps the body to adapt to changes during pregnancy
• Treats trauma from accidents, sports injuries, and motor vehicle injuries
• Promotes cardiovascular function
• Reduces blood pressure and associated diseases

Manual Osteopaths tailor their approach to each patient’s needs and lifestyle. Here are a few examples of treatment techniques, with a brief description of how they are carried out.

Treatment Methods

• Osteopathic palpation   - manual osteopaths identify, assess, and treat the body’s structures and rhythm using a gentle, hands-on approach.
• Soft Tissue Manipulation - The practitioner uses soft tissue manipulation in many different ways. In general, they use it to evaluate the condition of tissues and to help the body’s fluids (such as blood and lymphatic fluid) flow smoothly.        
• Osteopathic Articular Technique - Manual osteopaths use this technique to reduce muscle spasms near a joint, ease neurological irritations around a joint, make joints more mobile and to reduce pain and discomfort.    
• Cranial Osteopathy - Manual osteopaths use this gentle technique to assess and treat the mobility of the skull and its contents. They may also use it to assess and treat the spine, the sacrum, and other parts of the body. The goal of this technique is to adjust the body’s physiology by restoring balance to the circulation of the blood and other body fluids. Manual osteopaths do this by treating the body’s inherent biorhythm.    
• Visceral Manipulation - Manual osteopaths use visceral manipulation to treat organs and viscera of the body, including the lungs, heart, liver, spleen, kidneys, stomach, pancreas, intestines, bladder and uterus.

Ron Sawyer is a Registered Massage Therapist and a Manual Osteopath, a member of the National Manual Osteopathic Society (NMOA), at Westmount Physiotherapy and Massage.

Adam Hopkins is a Registered Massage Therapist and a Manual Osteopath, a member of the Ontario Osteopathic and Alternative Medicine Association (OOAMA), at Westmount Physiotherapy and Massage.

Many private insurance companies cover Manual Osteopathy.