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Osteopathic Technique:




OSTEOPATHIC TECHNIQUES

WHAT IS NORMAL?

APPLICATION OF OSTEOPATHY

TREATMENT AND TECHNIQUE




Osteopathic Techniques
Osteopathic techniques are the way in which the practioner applies the principles of osteopathy. Manual techniques are used to adjust and correct mechanical problems in the whole body. Usually a patient will be asked to be passive while the osteopath applies the treatment. However, at times there are some techniques for which the patient must actively participate in the movements.

The examination on the first and subsequent visits to the osteopath will show the practioner how far the body or part differs from the normal. The number of techniques available to treat the lesions is almost limitless. The guide for technique is the body itself. Each treament technique is unique.

Dr.Still alway encouraged his student to developed their ability to palpitate and use the body tissues along with their functional anatomical knowledge as a basis to treatment, rather than teaching general technique. Also he stressed that an osteopath should concentrate on the principles of Osteopathy, developing and elaborating through study and experience.

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What is Normal?
The knowledge of human anatomy and physiology are extremely important for an osteopath to understand. Dr.Still emphasized that his student know how each joint and other parts of the body work together. This was the basis for the idea that students of osteopathy has to be completely familiar with normal functioning, so that when they worked with patients they would recognize abnormal when they may come across it in their patients.

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Application of Osteopathy
The basis for the succesful application of the osteopathic treatment lies is the skill of palpation, which in the hands of a skillfull practitioner will make that treatment effective, painless, precise and safe.

Effective treatment is when the Ostepath responds to the needs and changes in the body tissue itself. Skill as a practioner will allow for recognition of what their fingers and hands are telling them until the expected improvement has occured.

Painless treatment is when the Osteopath knows that to get the hoped for improvement, treatment should never be rushed or rough, but instead be thorough and gentle. Each movement is carried out with greatcare and understanding of the patient's condition.

Precise treatment is when the Osteopath can apply the techniques precisely because of their ability to diagnose. The skillfull palpation allows the Osteopath to combine diagnosis and choice of techniques in a unique and accurate way. Because of this specific approach, the greatest effect can be achieved in each treatment with the least intrusion.

Safe treatment is largely due to the in-depth medical history that the practitioner takes from the patient at their first meeting. Linked with the thorough examination of the person. The osteopath is aware that some conditions have limitations for treatment.

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Treatment and Technique
The actual treatment is the goal that the osteopath has in mind for the patient and the technique is the means to obtaining the goal. The object is not just to remove symptoms, but to correct the cause of them aswell. Throughout a course of treatment, the osteopath is aware that whatever they do to one part of the body will have a bearing on the whole.

More still to come ......

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