How Neck Pain is Treated by Osteopaths
Osteopathic medicine is a kind of medicinal practice in which the entire body is taken into consideration instead of looking at symptoms separately. This type of medicine is very “in” right now, especially for those who suffer from pain in their muscles and joints. A lot of people believe that an osteopath is your best option when you suffer from neck pain. Obviously, if this is your first visit to an osteopath, you are probably nervous, but you can relax. Here is what you can expect to experience when you treat neck pain with an osteopath:
The first part of your visit will be an exam that feels more like a visit to a “traditional” doctor. You’ll most likely give your complete medical history and also receive a physical examination. In many cases, your osteopath might order extra tests to help narrow down exactly why your neck is in pain. You might have an X-Ray taken to see if there is any physical damage to the vertebrae in your neck, but don’t be surprised if your osteopath pays attention to other parts of your body as well!
You should know that your visit to an osteopath will involve quite a bit of touching. Osteopathic medicine is “hands on” medicine.
Your Osteopath might use any of the following methods to treat your neck pain:
Counterstrain technique: this technique involves moving you into a position that will help your body restore motion to any of your muscles that might have been strained or restrained.
Muscle Energy technique: your osteopath will give you specific exercises in which you will use your muscles from a specific position and move them in specific directions.
Soft Tissue technique: Pressure is applied to the muscles around your spine by your osteopath. This technique might involve deep pressure, traction or rhythmic stretching.
Thrust technique: Your osteopath will use a high velocity force to reintroduce movement to your joints and muscles. Thrust is used to correct any asymmetry in your muscles. This method should also take care of any restricted movements, tissue changes or muscle tenderness you might have been experiencing.
Your osteopath might also use a low level laser or acupuncture techniques to help treat your neck pain.
An osteopathic visit might sound scary, but there is no reason to be frightened. Most people who visit an osteopath don’t experience any pain. Most of the time osteopathic visits have been reported to be pleasant and relaxing!
Some people confuse osteopaths and chiropractors and while the two professionals seem similar, they are very different. Chiropractors treat your joints and spine. Osteopaths, on the other hand, work to treat your entire body.
