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My personal osteopathic approach involves a wide range of gentle techniques suitable for people of any age. These techniques may vary from soft tissue stretching and mobilisations/manipulations to cranial work. There are as follows:
Soft Tissue Manipulations: These rhythmic techniques can be divided in several categories such as traction, deep kneading, stretching or mobilisations. The main goal is to produce muscle relaxation, improve lymphatic drainage and mobility.
Cranio-Sacral Technique: The purpose of this technique is to improve and normalise cranial bone motion thus balancing the tension membranes of the central nervous system. It is an extremely gentle technique in which the osteopath monitors and corrects the cranial rhythmic impulse by light touch.
Muscle Energy Techniques: It is a technique that uses patient active muscle contractions in specific directions to relax tight muscles and restore altered mobility in specific joints.
Myofascial Release: Instead of focusing on joints, myofascial release tends to work in the outer layers of myofascial tissues. The name fascia is related with the sheet of tissue that involves the muscles. Fascial release is another extremely gentle technique that has an effect in the whole body.
Strain and Counterstrain Techniques: Counterstrain is an indirect technique in which the area being treated is positioned at a point of maximum balance and comfort, away from the restrictive barrier. It is very useful in acute conditions.
Thrust Techniques: Thrust techniques are the most known techniques used by osteopaths. They require the application of a gentle force using high velocity and low amplitude. The goal is to restore altered mobility in a specific joint. They should be applied using high velocity rather than force.
Following the treatment a great emphasis is put on postural and exercise advice.
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