What is Osteopathy?
Osteopathy is an allied health profession which takes an holistic, or whole-body approach to healthcare. It uses manual ‘hands-on’ techniques to improve circulation and correct altered biomechanics. An osteopath will focus not only on a patient’s pain or discomfort but also address any associated changes to healthy function throughout the body. In doing so they aim to address the cause of an issue rather than only the symptoms.
In osteopathy, the therapist uses his/her hands to diagnose the patient, feeling for restriction, tissue strain, and organic and neuronal disorders. They then use a variety of hands on techniques to treat the patient by addressing these issues. The entire body is brought into healthy balance, whereby the body's own forces can once again flow freely. A "restart" like this initiates the body's self-regulation.
It is the science, philosophy and principles that define Osteopathy, rather than any form of diagnosis or treatment. Osteopaths apply these principals in the care of patients with a wide range of musculoskeletal disorders and symptoms.
These principals are:
1. Structure and function are integrally related
2. A good supply of oxygenated blood and adequate drainage is necessary for tissue health
3. The body is a self-healing organism
4. The body functions as an integrated unit
When caring for a patient an osteopath will put these principals into action, by assessing altered structure and how it may be impacting good function. In other words when the body is moving as it is designed to in nature, its tissues are better able to function well. Alterations to this structure such as through injury, biomechanical strains, or surgical intervention, may have far reaching consequences throughout the entire body resulting in pain.
Osteopaths consider all the tissues of the body, including joints, ligaments, muscles, nerves, the circulatory system, connective tissue, and organs. They provide musculoskeletal and nervous system assessments, manual therapy, clinical exercise programs, including ergonomic and postural advice. They may also offer ongoing support and educational advice about a patient’s lifestyle factors which may influence their pain, injury, or movement.
In Australia osteopaths are government registered and regulated by AHPRA, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. To qualify they must complete extensive university training in human biosciences including anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, general healthcare diagnosis, and osteopathic manual techniques.
Osteopathy in Breast Cancer Patients
Osteopathy is ideally suited to address the side effects which may develop during breast cancer treatment. These include scarring, cording, seroma, adhesions, and fibrous tissue changes. In other words, the lumps, bumps, ridges, stiffness, and puffiness which can remain after treatment. Gentle osteopathic manual techniques work to unwind and soften this scarred and thickened tissue. This allows fluid to drain, function to be restored and tissue to regain its natural pliable texture.
Issues such as restricted shoulder movement, hard and tight tissue in the axilla (armpit), tenderness, and pain, may resolve when the natural tissue mobility and pliability is restored. This also assists fluid which may have collected in the tissue, such as seroma and oedema, to drain naturally. The surgical removal of lymph nodes, and radiation therapy to this region, may also result in the development of ‘cording’ or Axillary Web Syndrome. This is when fine cord-like structures arise and may extend down the arm to the hand. This responds well to osteopathic manual therapy and patients are also provided with take home exercises to assist their recovery.
Some of the nausea and abdominal discomfort in chemotherapy patients is also biomechanical in nature – long hours spent in chairs and bed and general immobility. Gentle mobilisation of the diaphragm and thorax, and visceral massage to the bowel, can improve natural gut mobility and motility. This can offer chemotherapy patients enormous relief from nausea and constipation.
Finally, and most importantly, for breast cancer patients who have already been through so much in their ‘journey’, to be able to regain their soft breast once more, and have relief from pain and discomfort, and to be able to breathe and move ‘like they used to’, makes osteopathic treatment a joy. This form of care so often resolves the lumps and bumps in breasts, the unsightly imbalance of breast size and position, and associated discomfort and pain. Breasts which move, feel, and look more natural are a boost to self-confidence, and a welcome return to feeling ‘normal’ again after such a challenging time.