NEWBORNS AND INFANTS
Osteopathy may help with a variety of problems for your newborn or young baby. Your baby may have experienced tight quarters before being born or may have retained strains in the cranium and body during the birth process. These compressions and strains can be very mild or can be more moderate or strong.
A variety of symptoms may be experienced by the baby such as reflux, gas pain, latching difficulty, torticollis or wry neck with a neck preference of looking only one way or a more severely tight and short presentation of the neck , flat head (plagiocephaly), restrictions of the ribcage and diaphragm or pelvis and hips. Osteopathic treatment can alleviate strains both in the body and in the cranium.
Osteopathy provides a gentle mobilization of the delicate system of the newborn and young baby. Careful palpation is used to regulate the membranes and bones of the cranium when they have not been able to restore themselves after delivery. Gentle release to the soft tissues and fluidic shape of the entire body restores ease and optimal movement. The diaphragm is a focus for alleviation of reflux, distress and fussiness. The function and developing strength of the diaphragm is exceedingly important for the development of good core stabilization which is integral to development in the early months; and indeed through the first year of life.
Babies develop and change at a rapid rate and each stage requires the attainment of increasing layers of stability of the core to have optimal movement. Underlying tensions will interfere with this optimal stability development. Movement and stability are part of the assessment. It is recommended that the baby be seen early, prior to 3 months of age for treatment and home guidance. Your baby can be seen early, in the first weeks and is ideally seen by 6 -8 weeks when possible. By 3 months, baby is learning to support on both elbows on tummy to lift the head up!
PREGNANCY AND POST PARTUM
Pregnancy is a very special time when a woman's body goes through extraordinary changes in shape, tissue texture and change particularly in the pelvis, abdomen and diaphragmatic area. Osteopathy can assist in alleviating pain which may arise in the back, pelvis, hips, diaphragm and chest to name a few.
Osteopathy can provide gentle mobilization of the spine, rib cage and pelvis, hip areas commonly under extra stress during pregnancy. There is often strain in the shoulder and neck area as well, often due to the changes of the abdominal space and pressure on the diaphragm. Cranial osteopathy is important to maintain motion of the core link and assist in calming. Special care is given to monitoring the core stability through pregnancy and post partum.
FAMILY
Osteopathy is for the whole family!
Children and Adults
Osteopathic care can be of benefit for a wide range of reasons. Recent injuries, chronic pain and dysfunction, stress and trauma, TMJ, loss of mobility and core stability, headaches, sinus issues, and visceral symptoms are some of the problems osteopathy can assess and treat.
CONCUSSIONS
Osteopathy may help in the event that you have suffered a concussion. It is ideal to have an initial assessment and treatment as early as possible after your concussion following at least 48 hours of complete rest.
A thorough assessment of the cranium, neck and the entire body as related to the event causing the concussion is carried out on the initial visit. Your previous injuries are considered in the assessment as well. The initial visit will also include your first treatment. Gentle and efficient cranial osteopathy restores mobility of the cranial sutures and the balance of the cranial membranes. Cranial sutures and membranes will have distortion due to the impact leading to concussion. This normalization can relieve headache, pain, pressure, brain fog and help alleviate fatigue. Gentle restoration to the injured tissues and joints of the neck and body is important to support the connecting structures from the body to the head. Home exercises are provided as indicated.
