What is Osteopathy?

Osteopathy is a hands-on approach to health maintenance. Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.’s) treat with manipulation to assist the inherent healing forces of the body, allowing normal structure and function to be maintained. Osteopaths focus on health, not disease, and strive to build health in our patients. We consider diet, exercise, physical and emotional stresses, genetic, environmental and occupational factors, and the history of that life, from conception to the present. We look at the body structure from head to feet. With perceptive, feeling fingers we identify areas where structure has been disturbed and recognize how the body’s self correcting mechanism is responding. In addition to recommending or prescribing medications, diet, exercise, counseling or surgery where indicated, we treat with manipulation.

Osteopathic physicians are able to treat virtually any illness or injury. Inherent in our philosophy is that disease in one area affects other areas as well. Illnesses most commonly treated are musculoskeletal problems like back, neck or shoulder pain, carpal tunnel syndrome and torticollis, as well as conditions such as headaches, TMJ, ear infections, asthma, lymphedema, constipation and menstrual problems.

Author: MARY

Office Manager at Ruscombe Mansion Community Health Center