You have the power to manage your health. With guidance from experts, you can combine therapies—like osteopathy in integrative healthcare—to support healing, healthy aging, and overall wellness.
We’re grateful to live in an age of choice regarding our health and wellness. As individuals, we can choose which practices best suit our lifestyle and health goals and pursue them with the support of integrative healthcare teams.
In this article, we will explore how osteopathy can be a part of your healthcare routines.
What does “integrative healthcare” really mean?
Integrative healthcare takes a patient-centred approach to your health and well-being, combining various practices, medicines, and mindfulness activities. Together, they help address your pain, heal your body, and support your holistic health and well-being.
Integrative healthcare clinics often include a multidisciplinary team of practitioners that support:
- a holistic approach to your care (including supporting your mind, body, and soul connection and well-being),
- patient-centred care (focusing on your needs, preferences, and values, and emphasizing the patient-practitioner relationship),
- lifestyle changes (to focus on your diet, exercise, stress management, and other overall wellness), and
- complementary and alternative medicines (may include acupuncture, massage, yoga, osteopathy, herbal remedies, and meditation).
Here’s an example of a scenario when integrative healthcare may be beneficial:
You recently sustained a knee injury while playing soccer for your local team. You’ve undergone surgery at your local hospital to repair the injury. Now, you are working with a physical therapist to regain your range of motion, and seeing your acupuncturist weekly to manage pain. You’re feeling stressed due to your current immobility, so you consult your osteopath, who is assisting you with stress relief, improving your sleep, and making lifestyle changes to allow for your healing.
As you can see in the above example, different practitioners support different areas of your health and wellness. With your permission, they can consult each other regarding your care and progress to plan treatments and care that work together to help you heal.
What is Osteopathy?
Osteopathy is a holistic manual therapy that focuses on the health and well-being of your musculoskeletal system (joints, muscles, and spine).
Your osteopath uses drug-free, non-invasive approaches for your whole body wellness, not just the site of your injury or pain. Osteopathy helps encourage your body to heal quickly and efficiently.
Common techniques your osteopath may use include:
- Myofascial Release
- Muscle Energy Techniques (MET)
- Soft Tissue Massage Techniques
- Cranial Therapy
- Stretching
Typical reasons to see an osteopath as part of your integrated health plan include to:
- Improve circulation and mobility
- Reduce stress
- Help you sleep better
- Prevent (or heal) chronic pain and discomfort
- Support healing from sports or occupational injuries
- Boost fertility and support women’s health issues
Integrating osteopathy with other health modalities
Choosing osteopathy doesn’t mean not accepting other support. The great thing about osteopathy is that it works well alongside other treatments and health treatments you may already have (or are considering).
Here are some examples of other modalities that work well alongside osteopathy:
Physiotherapy: Physiotherapy helps improve your recovery and mobility around your injury site. Osteopathy also supports mobility improvement through other techniques, including gentle massage, physical manipulation, and stretching. It also helps boost your circulation, bring healing support to your injury site, and expel toxins and waste from the injury.
Massage therapy: Massage therapy helps reduce muscle tension and tightness. Working with an osteopath further supports releasing tense muscles and can help realign your musculoskeletal system and fix postural issues resulting from “favouring” your injury.
Naturopathy and acupuncture: Naturopathy and acupuncture greatly benefit your digestive system and help boost nervous system health. Osteopathic techniques work well with these specialties as they help ensure your digestive system organs function optimally to absorb nutrients and expel waste effectively.
Medical doctors: Medical doctors and emergency clinics can provide effective diagnosis, procedures, and pain relief for your injury. Add osteopathic treatments to support your whole-body health and well-being, not just the injury or location of your pain and discomfort.
The key to successful integrative healthcare is to ensure open communication and collaboration between your healthcare providers. Give consent for these care providers to discuss their treatment plans and progress with each other. This will help ensure better-balanced care.
What to expect from your osteopath
Your first osteopathic appointment will typically be longer in duration. This allows for a detailed discussion of your medical and wellness history and a deep-dive evaluation of your health concerns today. Now is the time to tell your osteopath if you are (or plan to) work with an integrated team of healthcare professionals.
(Tip: If you are considering an integrated approach and don’t already have practitioners in mind, ask your osteopath for recommendations)
Then, your osteopath will recommend a treatment plan that complements other therapies and treatments you have. There is no one-size-fits-all approach, so your care plan will be tailored to your body, preferences, and lifestyle.
Osteopaths can be your long-term wellness partner
Don’t forget that osteopathy is both a curative and preventative practice. You can see your osteopath when you have an injury, pain, or discomfort, or as part of your regular wellness checks and care.
Talk to your healthcare providers about your health and wellness history or concerns and ask them to collaborate on an integrated approach to your health and well-being.
Ready to get started? I’m accepting new patients at Thuja Wellness right now. Book your next osteopathic appointment today, and I’ll work within your integrated wellness plan or help you create one. If you have any questions, just ask.
