What is
Osteopathy?

Osteopathy is a patient-centered system of health care.

The association Ostéopathie Québec defines osteopathy as a manual approach whose aim is to reestablish the adequate function of body structures and systems in order to optimize its self-healing capabilities. This practice is based on deep knowledge of health sciences and of the interactions that allow the organism to maintain a balanced state.

Using a precise and fine palpation, a complete evaluation is carried out in order to find the causes of neuro-musculo-skeletal, visceral and cranial dysfunctions. Each osteopathic treatment is specific and individually tailored.

Osteopathy Neck pain, back pain

The aim of osteopathic care is to promote health, recover the structural and dynamic balance of the body’s systems and improve the individual’s quality of life.

Osteopathy is based on the following principles:

  • The human being is a functional unit.
  • The body possesses its own self-regulation mechanisms directed to self-healing.
  • Structure and function mutually influence each other.
  • Osteopathic practice integrates the previous principles.

Osteopathy is a unique profession that takes care of the person by focusing on health. Health can be understood as a state in which all parts work together harmoniously. The unit is influenced by the different factors of a person’s life as well as by their environment. If the various structures of the body are in optimum state and they work together at the fascial, biomechanical, muscular, neural, circulatory, and endocrine levels, the result is a state of health.

Osteopaths work towards restoring a state of balance in the body through the use of touch, physical manipulation, and stretching to increase articular mobility, to free muscular tensions, to enhance tissue blood flow and innervation, and to help optimize the self-healing mechanisms of the body.

Shoulder pain, Osteopathy session

The Osteopathy session

With honesty, integrity and professionalism, the practitioner provides compassionate, quality care for the client.

A first session starts by discussing the reason for consultation, and history taking. The practitioner maintains professional secrecy, ensuring the client’s confidentiality.

The osteopath may ask you to remove some of your clothing or to wear snug clothes to facilitate evaluation of the posture, observe areas of tension, gravity lines as well as to enable her work. It is equally recommended to remove your glasses, jewelry, etc.

All the information obtained will guide the therapist in her evaluation through palpation. She will also look for signs of serious conditions which she is unable to treat and might advise to consult a doctor or to go to hospital.

Since osteopathy has a global approach, it is natural for the practitioner to work at areas of the body that are far from the area of your discomfort. Because of the body’s structure, the discomfort or pain that you feel in a body part may be related to a problem located elsewhere. Feel free to ask your therapist to explain what they are doing during the osteopathic session. (Reference: Ostéopathie Québec)

Through gentle mobilization of the body, the appropriate osteopathic care is provided on a case-by-case basis.

At the end of the session the practitioner will provide suggestions to promote health such as postural adjustments, movement and lifestyle choices to help in the promotion of health and to prevent symptoms recurring. They will also recommend a suitable follow-up.

Anxiety, sleep disorders

Is Osteopathy for me?

Osteopathy works for everybody: from babies, children, teen-agers, adults, the elderly, pregnant women and the post-natal period.

In Québec, no medical referral is needed to consult in osteopathy.

Do I need to be in pain
to see an osteopath?

The fact that a person has no ailments does not necessarily mean that the person is healthy. Osteopathy is also preventative. It works to find recurring patterns in the clinical history or in the physical examination of the person, to find predispositions or tendencies to develop certain conditions, and address them in a timely manner.

The purpose of preventive osteopathy is to promote and maintain good health, prevent disease or stop its progression. In the osteopathic vision, removal of somatic dysfunctions may enhance the organism’s potential for health.

The purpose is to find and reduce the chances of development of trends that may precipitate pain or disease. Osteopathy’s purpose is to bring the person to the best and most independent state of health. This involves more long-term osteopathic management, aiming to improve the quality of life.

Everyday stressors influence the natural adaptive mechanisms of the body. Osteopathic care helps to decrease the protective responses of the body (such as inflammation), which helps to maintain a state of health. Working with tissues increases lubrication, maintains functionality and avoids the installation of tissue rigidity. A timely intervention may reduce inflammation and prevent exhaustion of the immune system.

Prevent pain, postural balance