There are a multitude of Osteopathic Treatment Techniques. You will often find that each practitioner has their own unique treatment style. Having such a wide range of treatment techniques means that osteopaths can treat a problem in many different ways.
Osteopaths can tailor a treatment to suit your likes and dislikes. We can be as firm or as gentle as you like. So please let your practitioner know if you respond well to a certain treatment style. Some of our treatment techniques are explained in more detail below.
Soft Tissue Techniques
Type of massage that uses light or firm, direct pressure to relax hypertonic (tight) muscles and stretch tight fascial structures.
Muscle Energy technique
Muscle Energy Technique (MET) is a manual therapy that uses the muscle contractions of the patient to relax and lengthen tight muscles and improve joint range of motion.
Articulation techniques
Passive mobilisation of the spine or a joint by the practitioner to improve joint movement.
HVLA
High velocity, low amplitude (HVLA) is a technique where you may hear a 'pop' or 'click' of a joint. HVLA is a great technique, when warranted, to improve joint motion. It is the technique people will often called being 'cracked'. We often get asked, "is the crack moving bones back into place", with the answer being, No. It is not moving bone or grinding bone on bone. A recent study has described the cracking noise as seen on MRI "As the joint surfaces suddenly separate, there is no more fluid available to fill the increasing joint volume, so a cavity is created, and that event is what's associated with the sound."
Our Osteopaths have extensive training in this technique, however, some of our Osteopaths choose not to use this technique at all. HVLA technique does have some risks involved and won't be performed unless you feel comfortable with it.
Counterstrain
Imagine your tight muscle is like an elastic band on stretch. Counterstain takes the muscle of stretch so it can reset to its normal resting tone and length. A gentle way we release muscles and joints.
DRY NEEDLING
The technique involves using a fine filament needle, like an acupuncture needle, and when placed into a tight muscle band, or trigger point, this creates an instant release response in the area.
Trigger Point Dry Needling is a treatment technique we offer at Bodyfocus. If you have tried other treatment options without success, we recommend you give this a try.
We recommend dry needling to patients who suffer from chronic muscular conditions such as; Achilles tendonitis and tennis elbow, but is also highly effective for lower back pain, headaches, sciatica, hip and groin pain and other sporting injuries.
http://www.gemtinfo.com.au/what-is-trigger-point-dry-needling.html
CRANIAL-SACRAL OSTEOPATHY
Cranial-sacral osteopathy is a gentle therapy that aims to balance and strengthen the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) which surrounds and nourishes the brain and spinal cord.
During a cranial-sacral treatment your osteopath uses gentle touch that encourages your tissues to relax and unwind. During, or following treatment, you may experience a sense of deep relaxation, tingling, fluid flow or relief from your pain; these effects are very subtle.
