Freedom to Live Through Osteopathy – by Laura Richardson, MHSc

Whether you’re 25, 55 or 75 years old, we can all remember a time when our bodies moved more freely. For nearly 140 years, Osteopathy has provided relief for those who are looking to recapture their freedom of movement and in many cases return to a pain-free existence.

Rather than focusing on disease, Osteopathy focuses on finding and restoring health within an individual. This approach makes it possible for an osteopath to assist in the management of a range of conditions while improving the overall functioning of the body. At its core, Osteopathic treatments use a hands-on-approach that are aimed at optimizing the body’s ability to heal itself.

By focusing on the body’s natural form and function, the goal of an osteopath is to relieve pain and illness by optimizing movement and restoring health and vitality to the body.

When the body is not able to move freely, pain, injury or illness often occur. Since normal body movement is a vital element of healing and maintaining health, negative effects occur as a result of motion restrictions and the associated effects on body mechanics, blood flow, lymphatic drainage, neurological function and organ function.

In general, Osteopathy can provide relief from a variety of musculoskeletal problems, including:

• Back Pain, Sciatica, Arthritis
• Headaches, Migraines and Neck pain
• Joint and Muscle pain including Tendinopathy and Sports Injuries
• Complex Musculoskeletal issues

When used in conjunction with medical treatment, Osteopathy can also play an important role in digestive health, asthma management, pregnancy-related pain, menstrual pain, sinus congestion and dizziness.

Laura Richardson, BSc, MHSc is an Australian-trained Osteopathic Manual Practitioner based in St. Catharines, On., and is the principal osteopath at Natural Life Integrated Health Care Solutions.