What is Osteopathy?
Osteopathy is a holistic manual healthcare practice. Osteopathic practitioners treat pain and dysfunction related to your muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments, nerves, connective tissue and internal organs. Unique biomechanical principles and Osteopathic Techniques are applied to encourage the body to heal quickly and efficiently.
Osteopathy is an internationally accredited profession. Our Vancouver Osteopathic Practitioners have a Master’s Degree in Osteopathic Medicine and are highly skilled, in treating a wide range of sports/work-related injuries and postural problems.
Osteopathy Treats More Than You Think!
Sports-Related Injuries
- disc injuries
- sciatica
- lower back pain
- hip pain
- knee pain
- rehab fractures
- ligament sprains
- muscle strains
- muscle/tendon tears
- tendonitis
- ankle/foot/heel pain
Work-Related Issues
- headaches/migraines
- repetitive strain injuries
- lower back pain
- hip pain
- pelvic pain
- sciatic pain
- postural problems
- neck pain
- shoulder pain
- elbow/wrist pain
- rib pain
Fertility Issues
- pelvic misalignment
- lymphatic congestion
- scar tissue
- lower back pain
- premenstrual syndrome
- broad ligament restrictions
Pain During Pregnancy & Birth Preparation
- sciatica
- lower back pain
- shortness of breath
- indigestion
- rib pain
- diastasis recti
- pubic symphysis pain & misalignment
- muscle spasm/ strain
- uterus & ovary alignment
- headaches/migraines
Postpartum Recovery
- pelvic floor recovery
- pelvic alignment
- lower back pain
- rib pain
- wrist & elbow pain
- neck pain
headaches/migraines
Osteopathy & Sports Injuries
Do you love to run, cycle, hike, snowboard, ski, play impact sports, do CrossFit, dance or practise yoga, but your favourite activity has injured you?
Osteopathy is excellent for relieving pain caused by your favourite activity. Osteopathic Practitioners at Thuja Wellness are trained to find your primary issue, treat it to relieve pain and get you back to doing what you love ASAP, then help to rehab it, so the injury doesn’t return!
Osteopathy & Work-Related Injuries
What do you do for a living? Reception, construction, painter, jockey, designer, IT, nurse, plumber, electrician, or doctor? Did you know that repetitive movements and positions at work can cause injury?
Osteopathy is brilliant at making your work life pain-free. Don’t suffer at work due to work-related injuries. Seek Osteopathy at Thuja Wellness in Vancouver, and we will make your work life enjoyable again.
Osteopathy & Fertility
Planning a pregnancy?
Osteopathy at Thuja Wellness in Vancouver may improve your fertility by realigning your lower back and pelvis. This promotes healthy blood flow and ensures the right neurological signals get to your uterus and ovaries to enhance your fertility.
Osteopathy is an excellent complementary treatment to Acupuncture, which has been scientifically proven to enhance fertility.
Osteopathy, Pregnancy & Birth Preparation
If you are planning a pregnancy, Osteopathy will align your body, promoting healthy blood flow to your uterus and ovaries, thereby increasing your chances of conception.
During pregnancy, Osteopathy assists in regulating a mother’s body for optimal fetal positioning and birth preparation. Research suggests Osteopathy alleviates lower back pain related to pregnancy.
Having regular Osteopathy treatments throughout your pregnancy at Thuja Wellness in Vancouver will ensure your body is free from general aches and pains. You will be informed and educated about your body, nutrition, lifestyle changes, labour, and birth to help you feel empowered and in control of your birthing experience. We strive to give you the best care imaginable, making your pregnancy and labour as comfortable as possible.
Osteopathy & Postpartum Recovery
Osteopathy facilitates a faster postpartum recovery by realigning the pubic bone, pelvis, lower back and pelvic floor muscles. You may also experience wrist, elbow, neck, and rib pain caused by holding your baby while nursing. New moms love to look down at their creations, and who could blame them? Unfortunately, this can cause postural pain that can become very uncomfortable. Seek Osteopathy at Thuja Wellness in Vancouver for a faster postpartum recovery and make nursing more comfortable for you.
Osteopathy is for all family members, including husbands/partners and children
Whether your husband/partner sits at a desk on a computer for 6-12hrs a day, works in construction or looks after the kids, it’s important their body is free from work-related injuries or postural problems. Osteopathy resolves work and sports-related muscle and joint pain.
In the age of technology, more children are experiencing more headaches, and neck and upper back pain, predominantly from the overuse of touch screen devices. Many children sit with their backs and shoulders rounded and hunched forward, playing on their devices for hours at a time. This, compacted with sitting in school many hours a day, 5 days a week, can lead to postural concerns. Catch these issues early before they develop into chronic conditions.
If they experience any of the above? Your Osteopathic Practitioner will individualize Osteopathic Manual Treatment to relieve their pain.
Our team
OsteopathyIla Casselman, M.Ost.Med
Osteopathic Practitioner & Owner of Thuja Wellness
Osteopathy Vancouver Treatments
Please arrive 10 mins early to fill in your Health and Wellbeing form.
Females: Please wear loose attire – you may be asked to dress down to your bra during the examination and treatment. Please wear a clip bra for treatment purposes. All patients will be draped with towels for privacy and comfort.
Each consultation and treatment is tailored to the individual’s needs and will consist of a combination of the following:
Complete Health Screen,
Physical Examination &
Treatment Plan.
Thuja Wellness Osteopathic Practitioners ensure safety first.
Our Health and Wellbeing form and consultation give us an idea of your overall health.
Physical examination identifies the primary dysfunction and determines the Osteopathic Diagnosis for treatment or if further investigations are required and a referral to your ND or MD is necessary for X-ray, Ultrasound, MRI, or hormone testing.
Osteopathic Soft Tissue Massage
Massage warms up muscle tissue and prepares the body for a deeper treatment. It also allows the Osteopathic Practitioner to diagnose on a more intricate level.
Muscle Energy Technique (MET)
This is the perfect technique for all musculoskeletal and nerve tension injuries. MET increases the range of motion (ROM) within the joint. This tool is used instead of/ in conjunction with Osteopathic Joint Manipulation.
Osteopathic Joint Manipulation
LVLA (Low-Velocity Low Amplitude) uses a gentle force to move a joint through a range of motion. The movements are slow, short, frequent movements which aim to restore joint function. This tool is perfect for every joint in the body.
Balance Ligamentous Tension (BLT)
An effective, gentle technique that balances the ligaments within a joint. Perfect for ankle, feet, knee, wrist, hand, elbow, and shoulders.
Myofascial Release & Trigger Point Therapy
Unwinds scar tissue (knots) within the muscle.
Exercise Prescription
Appropriate strength/stretch exercises are prescribed to ensure faster treatment outcomes.
Nutrition & lifestyle Advice
Guidance on healthy eating and stress reduction. Referrals to General Practitioners, Counsellors, Naturopaths, Acupuncturists, Physiotherapists, Exercise Physiologists, and Massage Therapists when required.
Discussion
Educates the patient on the Osteopathic Diagnosis, healing time and home management plan.
General Practitioner (GP) Referrals
Some extended health benefits require a referral from your GP to have treatment from an Osteopathic Practitioner. Your Osteopathic Practitioner will refer you to your GP for further investigations if they suspect any condition that is life-threatening or specific Orthopaedic or neurological injuries that require a definitive diagnosis.
Examples of life-threatening conditions:
- Tumour
- Fever/Infection
- Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
- Stroke
- Myocardial Infarction/Heart Attack
Examples of Orthopaedic and neurological Injuries:
- Disc Injury
- Arthritis
- Osteoporosis
- Spondylolisthesis- forward or backward slipping if the vertebra
- Vertebral Canal Stenosis
- Ankylosing Spondylosis
- Fracture
- Cauda Equina Syndrome
Informed consent
Ensures you feel safe and are happy to be treated.
Children under 18yrs are to be accompanied by a parent/guardian.
Prebooking treatments
All patients will be asked to prebook the number of treatments that are required for a complete recovery. Thuja Wellness is a busy clinic, pre-booking appointments ensures you get the days and times that suit you best.
This isn’t a contract of any kind, and appointments are subject to change.
Payments
All payments are to be made on the day of treatment. We take credit or debit.
Medical Services Plan (MSPs) & Extended Health Plans
Osteopathy is not covered by MSP. Most extended health plans do cover Osteopathic Practitioners. Dependent on your health plan coverage. Please check with your health plan before treatment to make sure you’re covered. Otherwise, the treatment cost will be full price.