Osteopathy in Trieste
Osteopathic treatments at Studio Libra
Osteopathy
Osteopathy is the expression of a philosophy that recognises the individual as a functional unity in which the psychological, visceral and somatic structures cannot be separated.
This unity must be fully respected if one is to be truly effective in the art of healing.
The osteopath works, using their hands, on the integrity of the structure supporting the compromised function, as well as on the relationships with the surrounding structures and functions. The concept of movement is the cornerstone of osteopathic philosophy.
The aim of osteopathy is to restore movement, harmony and physiology, recreating the best conditions (environment) for the body to regain its state of health.
Osteopathic treatment employs a system of exclusively manual techniques (manipulation of joints, organs and tissues), which aim to mechanically correct structural variations or mechanical disorders capable of causing pathological changes.
By seeking to address the cause (rather than the effect) and restoring the structure’s mobility, function can be readjusted and the body can then begin its process of self-healing.
Osteopathy originated in the United States in the last century under the impetus of one man: Andrew Taylor Still.
Osteopathy is currently officially recognised in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, the United Kingdom, Belgium, France and, since 22 December 2017, in Italy as well.
To date, the majority of Italian osteopaths graduate from schools that adhere to the training criteria established by the Italian Register of Osteopaths.
Osteopathy: what it is and what it can treat.
(Definition from Dorland’s Medical Dictionary, 1957)
Osteopathy is a therapeutic method devised by A.T. Still, based on the principle that the body is capable of producing its own remedies against disease, provided its structural relationships are normal, its nutrition is good, and it is situated in a healthy environment.
THE THREE MAIN PRINCIPLES OF OSTEOPATHY
Unity of the body
Structure governs function
The role of the artery is paramount
THE RESULT: SELF-MAINTENANCE AND SELF-HEALING OF THE BODY
We are magnificently well-made, and nature has provided us with everything. We have our own defence system against microbes: we breathe in millions of them every day without falling ill! We are capable of self-regulating our functions; if we injure ourselves, a process of tissue repair (self-healing) is set in motion, and so on. For this to happen, our cells must receive everything they need to function and regenerate, and they must be able to rid themselves of all their waste products.
In a word: the blood, lymph and all the other fluids in the body, which carry nutrients and waste products, must circulate freely (the role of the arteries is paramount).
For this reason, the integrity of our neurological and hormonal regulatory systems is essential, as is that of our skeletal structure, in order to maintain the freedom of movement of all our tissues (structure governs function). It is movement that allows the fluids that bathe our tissues and cells to be renewed.
The osteopath therefore aims to rebalance the skeleton, muscles, ligaments, etc., so that all the ‘fluids’ circulate normally, placing particular emphasis on the spine, which is certainly the central pillar of our skeleton, but also a sort of ‘hollow tube’ containing our automatic control centres (we do not control our digestive tract; it functions on its own).
All parts of the body are interconnected, which gives the human being their identity and uniqueness (Unity of the body). These ‘connections’ are regulated by the nerve centres located in the spine. Once again, it is the spine, hence its importance.
Thus, in humans, if a function (or an organ) is not working properly, harmony is disrupted, and this manifests as various clinical symptoms (pain, fatigue, cough, high blood pressure…). Making the clinical symptoms disappear with chemical remedies does not mean restoring the patient’s harmony.
AN EXAMPLE
In the case of lower back pain, it is not enough simply to relieve the pain and inflammation; it is also, and above all, necessary to restore better spinal mechanics, so that flare-ups are no longer triggered by simple, minor ‘incorrect movements’.
Good spinal mechanics should allow for normal use of the spine, without the need to constantly be mindful of every movement. The osteopath will identify the ‘weak point’, readjust the structure to enable the body to defend itself against the ‘external aggressor’ and regain health and harmony. To this end, they perform manipulations that are always gentle, non-traumatic and painless.
WHAT ARE THE INDICATIONS FOR OSTEOPATHY?
Conventional medicine has accustomed us to a nomenclature such as: gastritis, sciatica, low back pain, etc. The osteopathic approach to diagnosis is very different from that of conventional medicine, and for this reason it is very difficult to define, using the usual terms, what the indications for osteopathy are, since osteopathy does not seek to cure a disease but to restore the skeleton to the best of its ability, to improve blood circulation, so that the body may regain, within itself and through itself, regain a state of health, whatever illness it may be suffering from.
MECHANICAL INDICATIONS
The mechanical aspect of osteopathy is the best known and accounts for the vast majority of osteopathic consultations. As it realigns bones, muscles and ligaments, it is obviously highly recommended for the treatment of mechanical conditions:
Spine and ribs: pain and dysfunction, with or without referred pain, such as: sciatica, cruralgia, lumbago, pubalgia, lumbosciatica, intercostal neuralgia, back pain, neck pain, cervicobrachial neuralgia, stiff neck, rib or intercostal pain, etc.
Limbs: pain and dysfunction in all joints, such as sprains, tendinitis, joint stiffness, ‘rheumatism’, etc.
Skull: pain and dysfunction such as: headaches, migraines, certain orthodontic and jaw-related conditions, facial neuralgia, some eye problems, rhinitis, sinusitis, vertigo, cranial conditions in young children related to childbirth, etc.
Visceral organs: like all the organs in our body, the visceral organs move and can therefore become “blocked”. Their movements depend on themselves and on the adjacent muscular and membranous structures. It has been shown that a kidney travels about 600 metres a day within its cavity! If it travels only 300 metres, it will function less effectively and there will be a greater chance of it becoming diseased.
When a light bulb fails to come on, the problem may lie with the switch (the spine) or with the bulb itself (the internal organs); thus, conditions such as hepatic colic, poor gallbladder function, gastritis, digestive disorders, hiatal hernia, colitis, diarrhoea, constipation, cystitis, certain forms of infertility, as well as problems related to the menstrual cycle, can be addressed through osteopathy, painful intercourse, etc.
Autonomic nervous system: stress, anxiety, depression, irritability, sleep disturbances, a feeling of oppression, etc.
Circulatory system: circulatory problems in the upper and lower limbs, venous congestion, palpitations, certain forms of high blood pressure, tachycardia, post-operative cardiovascular problems.
GENERAL INDICATIONS
We have seen that good health requires the integrity of our neurological regulatory system, our hormonal and circulatory systems, and our ‘structure’. The general indications will therefore be functional disorders, that is, anything that is not functioning properly.
The aim is to promote the body’s normal reactions, that is, to enhance our capacity for self-healing and self-repair. Nature is both its own doctor and its own pharmacist. As long as it is possible to restore health, conditions of any kind fall within the scope of osteopathy.
The limitations of osteopathy arise when a condition has progressed to such an extent that it causes serious anatomical damage. In such cases, a ‘point of no return’ has been reached and osteopathic treatment proves ineffective.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
The scope of osteopathy is, therefore, that of functional medicine and thus excludes all serious anatomical injuries, as well as all medical emergencies. In such cases, it is no longer a matter of seeking out the ‘weak point’ that allowed the disease to take hold, but of acting urgently, as the condition in question can no longer be combated by the body’s own defences alone.
At this stage, ‘external assistance’ is required to combat the aggressor or restore the disturbed balance. With the exception of these extreme cases, osteopathy enables us to regain our health without fear of causing unwanted side effects.