Osteopathy

Osteopathy is a holistic body therapy that is treated with the hands. Osteopathy treats mobility disorders within the entire body system. This can be, for example, classic loss of movement in the musculoskeletal system or disorders of organ mobility.

Osteopathy leaves no areas out; in the understanding of osteopathy, our body forms an inseparable unit. This means that all structures of the human body, the muscles, the bones, the joints, the connective tissue, the fascia, the nervous system with the brain and spinal cord, the membranes, organs and much more are included in the therapy.

An important component is the mobility of the circulatory system, i.e. arteries, veins, lymphatic system and the circulation of the cerebrospinal fluid. For an osteopath, all neighboring tissues in the body between which movement takes place form a “joint” whose optimal mobility is essential for our health. The aim of osteopathic treatment is the complex activation of the self-healing powers of the body tissue. Osteopathy therefore contributes to profound and comprehensive healing on a physical level. Thanks to its holistic nature, osteopathy can provide relief or even healing even for long-standing, chronic complaints.

Basically for everyone. Regardless of the individual illness, osteopathy as a holistic body therapy helps every organism to cope with daily stress and demands. Whole-body mobilization and relaxation have a positive, supportive effect on almost every illness by activating the self-healing powers. This is particularly true for chronic and therapy-resistant pain conditions. Of course, osteopathy also has its limits and is not a miracle cure. The effect of osteopathy ultimately depends on our overall system. Even osteopathy cannot compensate for a poor lifestyle. Unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, psychological stress, etc. can, as usual, reduce the effect of osteopathic treatment. In addition, there are illnesses in which osteopathy should not be carried out or only after consultation, such as acute infections (see also Infection Protection Act), severe neurological or psychiatric illnesses or similar. If after the initial examination there is suspicion of a contraindication to osteopathy, the osteopath will refuse treatment and, if necessary, refer you to a specialist.

Here is a selection of the most common reasons for osteopathic treatment:

If your specific problem is not listed here, you are welcome to ask us personally using the contact form.

• discomfort in the musculoskeletal system
• movement restrictions, blockages, etc.
• spinal/back problems
• chronic pain conditions of all kinds
• headache, dizziness, balance problems
• disturbances in the peripheral nervous system (sensory disturbances, paralysis, pain)
• disturbances in the digestive system
• certain gynecological diseases
• accidents, sports injuries, etc.
• unclear complaints that have been clarified by conventional medicine (e.g. cardiac arrhythmias without findings, neurological deficits without an apparent reason, etc.)
• Respiratory diseases/disorders of lung function

Osteopathy can be used very well as a preventative measure to avoid physical irritation. Just as we subject our teeth to regular preventive dental check-ups, osteopathy can be used preventatively. In this way, physical limitations that could cause unpleasant reactions to our daily stresses are identified and eliminated at an early stage. Comprehensive osteopathic treatment to eliminate tension, blockages, adhesions, etc. is particularly recommended when faced with major physical and mental challenges.

Since unnoticed loss of mobility in our body carries a high risk of irritation and injury, osteopathic prevention before sporting or other physical stress reduces the risk of illnesses, injuries and the associated loss of performance.

But even if an injury has occurred, osteopathy is very useful in eliminating the trauma reaction, especially the often unnoticed long-term consequences. Our cell tissue has a trauma memory. Even if we are now free of symptoms and can go about our everyday lives normally, the traumatic events are often retained in our cells’ memory like a kind of shock imprint. Over the years, this leads to increasing tissue tension, which then causes renewed symptoms at a later point in time and becomes chronic. Here, an intensive osteopathic solution to the dream memory in the tissue can achieve very good results, possibly even avoiding or delaying operations.

In the osteopathic understanding, operations are first and foremost a trauma to the tissue. Although they are often essential, they still represent an injury. In this respect, osteopathy can also make a significant contribution to healing the effects of the operation.

Depending on functional and anatomical connections, a basic distinction can be made between parietal (musculoskeletal system), visceral (organic) and craniosacral (cerebral cortex, spinal cord, meninges, cerebrospinal fluid) osteopathy. However, here again all three areas form an inseparable unit within the holistic thinking of osteopathy.

As with many treatment methods, various methodological approaches have emerged in osteopathy. This allows the patient to choose the methodology that suits them best. For example, in addition to the classic structural osteopathy described, there is craniosacral therapy (according to Upledger), biodynamics, energetic osteopathy and much more. An osteopath usually specializes more or less in one or two forms.

An osteopath who works more structurally will be more suitable for patients who like to be dynamic and strong. Here, more powerful mobilizations are used or sometimes they are adjusted.

Patients who tend to reject straightening and value gentle, calm and deeply relaxing work are certainly in good hands with an osteopath who works energetically or biodynamically and is inclined towards gentleness.

Craniosacral osteopathy is a particularly gentle work, in which very light pressure from the hands relaxes the meninges, skull and pelvic bones, and the spine.

Why is it like that?

Osteopathy is not regulated worldwide, although the WHO does have minimum requirements for training hours that the associations adhere to.

However, the admission requirements for osteopathy training vary in each country. In Germany, for example, an osteopath is only allowed to practice if he or she has completed a degree in alternative medicine. After completion, a state examination is required (certified alternative practitioner), which is allowed to practice medicine without working as a doctor.

Therefore, due to legislation, some osteopaths have more intensive knowledge of medicine (e.g. pathology) and others have their share of osteopathy training. Which doesn’t mean that they are worse. The first, in turn, are trained to combine osteopathy with other effective forms of therapy from alternative medicine.

In some countries there are courses at universities of applied sciences leading to a B.Sc. / M.Sc. Osteopath, or school course training DO (certified osteopath). Others have studied courses up to the Doctor of Osteopathy D.O. Who in America, for example, can also carry out surgical procedures with additional training.

I would just like to point out that there are always live videos of manipulative techniques on the Internet. We osteopaths certainly know when manipulative techniques (so-called HVLA thrust techniques) are used. However, this is certainly not our focus, but rather represents a very small part of our work.

So be careful of so-called applications that claim with a 4-day course that they are also osteopaths! Here I would like to see early legislation for Croatia. Who fully recognize us as osteopaths with our knowledge. Until then, I wish my colleagues a lot of patience. The better we work, the more likely this will be the case.

Your NMC team Krk