Have your health and wellness New Year’s resolutions fallen by the wayside? Now is the time to refresh your goals and find new motivation to keep moving forward. Have you tried including osteopathy for holistic health in your wellness routines?
Osteopathy helps you achieve your optimal health and wellness goals. Keep reading to learn about the benefits of osteopathy, the role of an osteopath, and how to find a reliable osteopathic practitioner near you.
Benefits of Osteopathy
Osteopathy is a holistic manual healthcare practice that’s gaining wide popularity for its holistic approach to wellness. Osteopathic practitioners treat pain and dysfunction related to your muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments, nerves, connective tissue, and internal organs.
Here are six common benefits of seeing your osteopath regularly:
1. Pain relief (and management)
One of the most common “triggers” that prompt people to see their osteopath is new, worsening, or chronic pain. This pain usually manifests in your back, neck, or joints, but your injury may be elsewhere. An osteopath can help find the root cause of your pain to maximize pain relief or management.
2. Increased flexibility
Many people see an osteopath to help them regain joint mobility and flexibility. This decreased mobility may be due to an injury, past trauma, or a symptom of aging. An osteopath can provide gentle manual techniques to help strengthen your joints and improve circulation so you can increase your range of motion and mobility.
3. Improved posture and musculoskeletal alignment
Misalignment of your musculoskeletal system, including your muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments, nerves, connective tissue, and internal organs, can cause pain and discomfort. An osteopath applies unique biomechanical principles and osteopathic techniques to help you improve your alignment and heal quickly and efficiently from related injuries.
4. Supports whole body health and wellness
Most Western medicine focuses on symptom relief but doesn’t seek to find the root cause of your injury or pain. It also rarely looks at other factors influencing your psychological health. An osteopath supports your full physical and emotional wellness by seeking the root cause of injury or pain and realigning all body systems to work harmoniously for your greatest benefit.
5. Stress relief
Stress is a physical and psychological struggle for many. Mental stress can manifest as physical pain and discomfort, same as physical pain or injury can affect mood and optimal well-being. Your osteopath can perform gentle manual techniques to promote relaxation, calm, and nervous system balance.
6. Better reproductive health
For those trying to conceive, who are pregnant, and who are postpartum, your health and well-being have a direct impact on your child and family. An osteopath can help you prepare your body for easier conception, a more comfortable pregnancy, and faster postpartum recovery.
The role of an osteopath in your health and wellness
When you include an osteopath in your health routines, you’re on your way to taking a more active role in your wellness. Here are more details about the role an osteopath plays in your health and wellness:
- Preventative care — You don’t have to wait for pain or injury to see your osteopath. They support preventative health care, helping you align your body to maximize your health and well-being, making you less susceptible to injury and illness.
- Complementary to other healthcare treatments — Osteopathy doesn’t mean solo care. It is commonly used alongside alternative, traditional, and Western medicine. Patients at Thuja also commonly work with physiotherapists, chiropractors, and others.
- Empowering your self-care — Osteopaths care about your whole body wellness and will be your cheerleaders. They can provide guidance on posture, exercises, and lifestyle adjustments to help you live your best life without sacrificing your self-care
- Support your overall well-being — Osteopathy is not just about aligning your physical body. It believes that all the body’s physical, psychological, and spiritual systems should complement each other. An osteopath’s goal is to support your overall health and well-being and help you achieve your wellness goals.
How to find an osteopath near you
Are you sold on the benefits of working with an osteopath? How do you get started?
Your first step is to find a qualified osteopath near you. This is a personal choice, and several considerations should be included in your search.
Here are some key steps to find the best osteopath for your needs:
- Do a Google search — Search for osteopaths near your home, work, or school. Your choice of osteopath may depend on how accessible their location is for your lifestyle.
- Ask friends and family — Recommendations will help you find a great osteopath. Ask friends and family for suggestions of osteopaths they’ve worked with.
- Check their specializations — If you require any specialized care or experience, look for an osteopath with experience or training in these areas (such as sports injuries, chronic pain, or women’s health)
- Read testimonials — Find an osteopath with positive reviews on Google or another review website. For example, you can view Thuja Wellness testimonials on our Google Profile.
- Check experience, qualifications, and accreditations — Ensure they are professionally trained in their specialty. Look on their websites for any other awards or accreditations they may have earned.
- Book an Initial Consultation — Most will offer a short, complimentary consultation or session to discuss your health and wellness concerns. Use this time to share your health concerns and history. Your osteopath will give you their treatment recommendation.
At this point, you can decide if you want to continue with this osteopath or not. You are not obligated to continue if you don’t feel comfortable with this practitioner.
When you choose an osteopath, they’ll recommend how often you should book your appointments. Ask them how far in advance you should book sessions, as busier practitioners may book up quickly or have limited availability.
When to book your next Osteopathy appointment
You can achieve optimal health and wellness by making osteopathy part of your healthcare plan and routines. If you value a holistic approach to your health and well-being, include osteopathy in your care plan. It is a gentle, non-invasive approach to optimize your general wellness and speed up injury recovery.
If Thuja Wellness made your shortlist for an osteopath, I recommend booking now. I typically book 1-2 weeks in advance.
You can view my availability and book your next appointment through JaneApp or call our office for more information.
