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We strive for the highest level of professional care while utilizing osteopathic manual therapy to treat the underlying cause of your problem.

Osteopathic Treatment of Common Conditions

Osteopathic Manual Therapy

The osteopathic practitioner relies on palpation to assess the position, mobility and quality of all tissues in the body. Palpation is a diagnostic skill that allows the practitioner to feel or sense the state of the tissues or systems being examined. This palpatory ability is not a gift—rather it is a trained skill that takes years to develop.

The ability to assess the quality of the tissues allows the osteopathic practitioner to prioritize an individual's course of treatment. These tissue qualities include vitality, density, congestion, scarring and dehydration. Sensing the quality, position and mobility of the tissues allows the practitioner to determine the priority of treatment. Bones, fascia, muscle, organs and the nervous system may all be treated osteopathically.

An osteopathic practitioner assesses the whole body as a unit and not just the area that is causing symptoms. Although treatment may be directed toward several specific areas, the effect of that treatment is often felt throughout the body.

Osteopathic manual therapy restores function by treating the causes of pain and imbalance. The osteopathic practitioner relies on palpation to assess the position, mobility and quality of all tissues in the body. This means that bones, as well as fascia, muscle, organs and the nervous system may be treated osteopathically. If it is in the body, the osteopathic practitioner can work with it.

Osteopathic philosophy embraces the belief that the body has an inherent capacity to heal itself. Over time, however, the body becomes less resilient as this ability to efficiently self-regulate diminishes. Some of this loss may be due to the aging process, to the prolonged influence of gravity on posture, or to trauma, accident, illness, surgical scarring, childbirth, repetitive activity, or the cumulative effects of stress. The practitioner of traditional osteopathy works with the body to enhance its inherent capacity to self-regulate and self-heal.

Osteopathic treatment is appropriate for many conditions including pain, chronic illness, concussion, and anxiety. Osteopathy and massage therapy are complementary therapies, working together to enhance your health.

Modalities: Different techniques will be used depending on the somatic dysfunction(s) present as well as different attributes of the individual being treated. Techniques include:

• Craniosacral Therapy: Cranial osteopathy is based on Sutherland’s concept that the bones of the cranium do not fuse with age and there is some micro-movement occuring at the sutures. When cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is produced in the brain, the brain expands. This creates a tension on the dura that surrounds it, causing the cranial bones to move in a rhythmical pattern. The tension in the dura at one end is transmitted along the spinal cord to the other end, causing the sacrum to have a rhythmical motion also. Cranio-sacral therapy can have a profound effect on the body by improving the circulation of all body fluids, calming the nervous system and removing patterns of strain anywhere in the body.

• Strain-Counterstrain: Within manual therapy, Strain-Counterstrain is a type of "passive positional release" created in the early 1960s by Lawrence Jones, D.O. It is a hands-on treatment that attempts to alleviate muscle and connective tissue tightness by the use of very specific treatment positions held for 90 seconds (can be held for up to 3 minutes in neurological patients).During the procedure, the involved tissue is "slackened" causing a relaxation of the "spasm" which, in turn, allows local areas of inflammation, trapped within the painful tissue to dissipate. Following this "release" there is an immediate reduction of pain and tension in the involved tissue. This relaxation aims to restore normal joint mobility and release other structures in the region that may have been compressed.

• Visceral Manipulation: Visceral manipulation is based on the principle that organs normally have mobility in response to the body moving and to normal bodily functions. Restrictions caused by surgeries, scars, infections, immobile joints and altered nerve conduction affect the functioning of the organs. Osteopathy offers gentle treatment techniques for the organs and the fascia that supports them, which can improve function by restoring proper motion. It is, however, important to seek medical advice for complete diagnosis of medical conditions.

• Osteo-Articular: Techniques relating to, involving, or affecting bones and joints.

• Muscle Energy Technique (MET): Muscle Energy Technique (MET) is a manual therapy that uses the gentle muscle contractions of the client to relax and lengthen muscles and normalize joint motion. Note: Post Isometric Relaxation (PIR), muscle to relax after an isometric contraction (Basis of MET). To define it specifically, it is “a direct manipulative procedure that uses a voluntary contraction of the patient’s muscles against a distinctly controlled counterforce from a precise position and in a specific direction”. It is considered an active technique, as opposed to a passive technique where only the therapist does the work.

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Optimal Health Tune-Up

Staying healthy takes effort. Exercise and a healthy diet go a long way, and there are some issues they don’t address. Osteopathic assessment reveals the restricted areas in a person’s body. Osteopathic treatment re-aligns and releases tensions so that blood and lymph are free to circulate and the body’s self-healing mechanisms are restored.

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Osteopathic Treatment for Pain Complex

Pain comes from three sources: the nerve end, nerve pathway, and from the central nervous system. Pain may arise from one of these sources or from a combination of sources. Osteopathic treatment can address all three sources of pain.

Pain at the nerve end is inflammatory or acidic/ischemic in origin. Inflammatory pain is more sensitive in the morning and after rest. There may be redness and swelling, and pain may be lessened by anti-inflammatories. Acidic/ischemic pain is due to the compression of tissues which forces out the fluids and results in acidity. It occurs with little or no inflammation, and pain arises from lack of movement and muscle tension. Pain is worse at the end of the day or after extended sitting or any other posture.

Pain generated along the pathway of the nerve manifests with numbness, tingling, burning, or electric sensations. The sensation remains within a fixed location. There may be a particular movement that provokes pain, lifting the arm, for example. Pain may be nocturnal.

Pain can result from a sensitization of the central nervous system (CNS). Sometimes the CNS itself becomes altered due to chemical interactions involving amino acids and neuropeptides, resulting in a lowered threshold of activation. The CNS is then sensitized not just to physical stimuli, but to mental, emotional, and environmental stimuli as well.

Signs and symptoms of central sensitivity include pain that moves around without corresponding to nerve pathways or dermatomal regions, and extended, exaggerated, or inappropriate pain responses. There may be spreading pain, delayed pain, or unexpected stabs of pain. Other indicators are linked pains that occur together or alternately, and mirror pain, which is the same pain in the other limb, deriving from an immune origin. Pain is not worse at any particular time of day, but may worsen at certain times in the year—in winter, or at the anniversaries of traumatic events. There may be frequent illness, environmental sensitivities, anxiety, or depression. Disruptions in central processing can lead to problems in the output systems: affective and cognitive function, autonomic and motor systems, immune and endocrine systems.

Central sensitivity affects more than just pain. Conditions such as CFS, fibromyalgia, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and tension headaches can be classified as central sensitivity syndromes.

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Osteopathic Treatment for Migraine Pain

Migraine is a neurological disease characterized by recurrent moderate to severe headaches often in association with a number of autonomic nervous system symptoms. Headaches are a common complaint we all share. Thankfully for many of us they are short-lived but for some people head pain can be chronic and debilitating. The majority of headaches are caused by prolonged muscle tightness, stress-related tension, sinus pressure and/or improper posture. Osteopathy is an excellent adjunct to treatment that can provide relief in all of these areas. Prolonged muscle tightness in the neck and shoulder areas causes the joints, muscles and nerves to compress, leading to pain. Movement of fluids through the blood and lymphatic system can also become restricted. Poor circulation then affects oxygen delivery to the brain and prevents waste product removal, creating a cycle of pain and discomfort.

Osteopathy is a gentle and non-invasive alternative and complementary therapy that allows the body to function correctly. Using manual techniques to highlight areas of tension and blockages, an osteopath relieves constriction so the body can use its own natural ability to overcome illness or disease which in turn eases pain. With treatment, muscle spasms relax, allowing better movement and drainage of body fluids. Osteopathy helps migraine sufferers to find relief from their pain and restores function and mobility to help with natural healing.

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Osteopathic Treatment for Temporo-Mandibular Joint (TMJ) Dysfunction

The temporo-mandibular joint (TMJ) is comprised of the temporal bone, the mandibular condyle, and the disc in between. Four ligaments and the lateral pterygoid muscle participate in joint function. From an osteopathic perspective, the joint is also influenced by the bones of the neck and the head, especially in the region where the head meets the neck.

Osteopathic treatment can re-align the various components of the joint, alleviating pain and dysfunction.

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Osteopathic Treatment for Stress & Trauma Recovery

Stress and trauma result from dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system is comprised of the sympathetic (fight or flight) and parasympathetic (rest, digest and repair) nervous systems. In a healthy individual, these systems balance each other in a homeodynamic way. Sometimes the ANS loses resilience and the individual is stuck in a dysfunctional state. Osteopathic treatment can effectively push the autonomic reset button.

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Osteopathic Treatment for Chronic Systemic Disorders and Neurologic Conditions

The nervous system regulates all the body systems, hence a dysregulated nervous system may lead to dysfunction in immune, digestive, genitourinary, cardiovascular and/or respiratory systems. Neurological impairments can be wide-ranging and varied, encompassing sensory and motor disturbances, pain, cognition, and sleep.

Many people experience multi-system breakdown manifesting as fatigue, brain fog, poor sleep, shortness of breath, digestive problems, immune dysfunction, and pain. Any or all of these symptoms may be present in complex chronic conditions.

The individual may be diagnosed with fibromyalgia, chronic Lyme disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Multiple Sclerosis or Myasthenia Gravis, to name a few possibilities. Or there may not be a clear diagnosis. A diagnosis is not necessary to treat osteopathically since the osteopathic practitioner treats what is present in the tissues and not by a cookbook procedure.

Osteopathy offers a treatment approach that encompasses biomechanical and autoregulating techniques, addressing many aspects of these complex conditions. Because osteopathy treats the whole person, it is well-suited to treating individuals with complicated health pictures.

Jenny conducted a 3-year research study on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Participants reported improvement in pain and energy levels, cognition, and quality of life.

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Osteopathic Treatment for Whiplash

Whiplash is the colloquial term for an injury also known as cervical acceleration-deceleration (CAD) or flexion-extension injury. It may result from a motor vehicle accident, or from a fall or a football tackle.

The neck is designed to be flexible, and to accommodate between a thoracic cage and a head that is constantly re-orienting itself. Unfortunately, this flexibility also leaves the neck vulnerable to injury, especially when the torso moves in one direction and the head moves in another.

Neck, back and shoulder pain are often experienced after a whiplash injury. Headache and tingling in the extremities are common as well. Symptoms may appear directly after the injury, or not for several days.

Osteopathic treatment removes the shock imprint, calms the tissues, and reduces inflammation. It is helpful to treat the chest and the base of the skull. No forceful techniques are used on an inflamed neck.

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Osteopathic Treatment for Anxiety

A chronic, underlying state of anxiety affects the body as well as the mind and emotions. Quality of life diminishes with the experience of fear, worry, and the inability to concentrate. An anxious person might experience fatigue, muscle tension, and difficulty sleeping. Anxiety induces a generalized inflammatory state within the body, setting the stage for ill health.

Anxiety is an expression of dysregulation in the autonomic nervous system (ANS). The ANS is comprised of the sympathetic (fight or flight) and parasympathetic (rest, digest, and repair) nervous systems. The breath is the gateway to the ANS, and so attention to the breath can help an anxious person to calm down.

Osteopathic treatment can regulate an overactive sympathetic nervous system and enhance parasympathetic function. It is important to free up the diaphragm and the ribs, allowing freedom to breathe and liberating the sympathetic ganglia on either side of the spine. Another key factor in treating anxiety is to relieve tensions in the dura mater, a membrane that surrounds and protects the central nervous system.

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Osteopathic Treatment for Adrenal Fatigue

The adrenal glands are the body’s shock absorbers. When the adrenals are overworked through unabated stress over a prolonged period, or by a major shock, adrenal dysfunction may result. Insufficient amounts of critical hormones are produced, affecting multiple body systems. This leads to an overall loss of optimal function.

Cortisol levels fluctuate throughout the day. In a healthy individual, cortisol levels are high first thing in the morning, and low at night before bed. An individual living with adrenal fatigue will experience cortisol levels that are too high at night and not high enough in the morning.

The primary symptom of adrenal fatigue is exhaustion, especially first thing in the morning. Other symptoms may include weight gain, poor sleep, foggy thinking, depression, irritability, low blood pressure, and a depressed immune system.

Adrenal fatigue can result from a variety of causes such as trauma, chronic disease, inadequate sleep, emotional stress, poor diet, and/or toxicity. Usually, the signs and symptoms of adrenal fatigue develop slowly over the course of years.

Osteopathic treatment can assist in recovery from adrenal fatigue.

Currently, the medical community offers mixed information about Adrenal fatigue or hypoadrenia, which are terms used in alternative medicine that some say describe the unscientific belief that the adrenal glands are exhausted and unable to produce adequate quantities of hormones, primarily the glucocorticoid cortisol. Adrenal fatigue should not be confused with recognized forms of adrenal dysfunction such as adrenal insufficiency or Addison's Disease.

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Other sources state that Adrenal fatigue is a collection of signs and symptoms, known as a syndrome, that results when the adrenal glands function below the necessary level. Most commonly associated with intense or prolonged stress, it can also arise during or after acute or chronic infections, especially respiratory infections such as influenza, bronchitis or pneumonia. As the name suggests, its paramount symptom is fatigue that is not relieved by sleep but it is not a readily identifiable entity like measles or a growth on the end of your finger. You may look and act relatively normal with adrenal fatigue and may not have any obvious signs of physical illness, yet you live with a general sense of unwellness, tiredness or "gray" feelings. People experiencing adrenal fatigue often have to use coffee, colas and other stimulants to get going in the morning and to prop themselves up during the day.

This syndrome has been known by many other names throughout the past century, such as non-Addison's hypoadrenia, sub-clinical hypoadrenia, neurasthenia, adrenal neurasthenia, adrenal apathy and adrenal fatigue. Although it affects millions of people in the U.S. and around the world, conventional medicine does not yet recognize it as a distinct syndrome.

Adrenal fatigue can wreak havoc with your life. In the more serious cases, the activity of the adrenal glands is so diminished that you may have difficulty getting out of bed for more than a few hours per day. With each increment of reduction in adrenal function, every organ and system in your body is more profoundly affected. Changes occur in your carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism, fluid and electrolyte balance, heart and cardiovascular system, and even sex drive. Many other alterations take place at the biochemical and cellular levels in response to and to compensate for the decrease in adrenal hormones that occurs with adrenal fatigue. Your body does its best to make up for under-functioning adrenal glands, but it does so at a price.

What causes adrenal fatigue?

Adrenal fatigue is produced when your adrenal glands cannot adequately meet the demands of stress.* The adrenal glands mobilize your body's responses to every kind of stress (whether it's physical, emotional, or psychological) through hormones that regulate energy production and storage, immune function, heart rate, muscle tone, and other processes that enable you to cope with the stress. Whether you have an emotional crisis such as the death of a loved one, a physical crisis such as major surgery, or any type of severe repeated or constant stress in your life, your adrenals have to respond to the stress and maintain homeostasis. If their response is inadequate, you are likely to experience some degree of adrenal fatigue.

During adrenal fatigue your adrenal glands function, but not well enough to maintain optimal homeostasis because their output of regulatory hormones has been diminished - usually by over-stimulation.* Over-stimulation of your adrenals can be caused either by a very intense single stress, or by chronic or repeated stresses that have a cumulative effect.

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Osteopathic Treatment for Sport Injuries

Osteopathic Practitioners provide effective treatment options for a variety of sport injuries.

In recent news:

Following the 2012 Olympic Games, the osteopathic profession continues to have an impact on the Olympics. Osteopathic physicians and osteopaths have lent their skills to athletes from around the world for more than 100 years and will continue to do so at the London Games.

More than 100 osteopathic physicians and osteopaths have provided care to Olympians, serving as health care providers to individual athletes and teams leading up to and during the Games. Also for the first time 26 osteopaths have been selected to be part of the Central Medical Team in the Athlete's Village itself.

Members of the Osteopathic International Alliance (OIA) provide care for athletes and athletic teams from eight countries across North and South America, Europe and Australasia. Care is provided in more than forty different sports, from football to swimming, judo to figure skating, basketball and triathlons, as well as rhythm gymnastics, tennis, rowing and skiing, among many, many others.

In addition to providing medical care, many osteopaths and osteopathic physicians provide leadership on numerous Olympic committees providing oversight of operations, logistics and personnel. Athletes treated by osteopathic practitioners have most recently won medals in the 1992, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2004 and 2008 Games.

The OIA is the primary international organization entrusted by the osteopathic profession to work for global osteopathic unity and to advocate for high quality osteopathic health care.

The OIA advances the philosophy and practice of osteopathic medicine and osteopathy worldwide, through its sixty-eight organizational members representing more than 110,000 osteopathic practitioners through institutions in twenty-seven countries on five continents.

Osteopathic medicine/osteopathy is a patient cantered holistic approach to health care that recognizes the importance of the relationship between the structure of the body and the way it functions. Osteopathic physicians and osteopaths use palpation and manual techniques to influence muscles, joints, nerves, connective tissue, circulation and internal organs to support the body’s ability to restore and maintain health.

Learn more about the osteopathic profession and the OIA at www.oialliance.org.

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Osteopathic Treatment for Concussion

Concussion is the most common type of traumatic brain injury. It causes a variety of physical, cognitive, and emotional symptoms including headache, dizziness, nausea, lack of coordination, brain fog, visual problems, and irritability. There can be long-term effects.

Regardless of whether the injury occurred yesterday or 20 years ago, the brain has a remarkable ability to heal. Osteopathic treatment assists fluid flow and helps the brain regain mobility and health. In case of recent injury, it can calm the nervous system and help reduce inflammation.

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