Osteopathy: what it is and what it is for

Osteopathy consists of a manipulative, holistic and non-invasive technique , which is concerned with restoring the structural and mechanical balance of the bone, joint and muscle system. 

The osteopath devotes his attention to the whole individual , to the individual parts as well as to the relationship between them, always bearing in mind that each structure is connected to the other and that a problem in one part of the body is it can also have repercussions on anatomically distant districts, and at a distance of time.

The osteopath’s approach takes into account the specificities of the person who addresses him, adapting his work from time to time, continuously testing, through a refined and meticulous listening skills exercised with the pressure of the hands, the effectiveness of the treatment of ‘osteopath .

Pediatric osteopathy: what it does

Very young children , infants, and pregnant mothers can also be referred to osteopathic treatment .

In general, pediatric osteopathy deals with those mechanical alterations affecting the muscular and skeletal system of the child, occurring during gestation, during childbirth , or in the very first moments of life . 

Already in the womb it is possible that the fetus is subjected to abnormal compressions and positions , mainly due to the physical changes that the mother’s body undergoes during pregnancy.

An incorrect fetal position can then also have consequences on the birth phase, subjecting the unborn child to maneuvers that can accentuate mechanical distortions in the fragile and malleable bones of the baby .

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Osteopathy in infants

Osteopathy applied to newborns is mainly concerned with solving the following and most common problems:

> asymmetries of the skull and facial bones : during birth, the child’s extremely flexible skull is extremely stressed and this can give rise to small and resolvable deformations;

> asymmetries and problems with the cervical vertebrae : again following the maneuvers to which the baby’s neck is subjected during birth, and as a consequence of the laxity of the muscles, the neck can be affected;

> curvature of the spine and scoliosis: always connected to the phases of childbirth and more generally to the position of the fetus during gestation, a position often repeated during the first moments of life;

> reflux and colic : the digestive system is closely linked to the muscle and joint;

> asthma : compression of the bronchi can lead to the development of amsa in the first months of life;

> otitis : the tiny bones of the inner ear can be affected by the maneuvers of childbirth and subsequent compensations of the spine, with consequent ear problems.

A good osteopath will be able to eliminate the structural distortions that the bone and muscular anatomy of the child engages when it encounters an obstacle to development, restoring at the same time the body’s innate ability to rebalance the imbalances.

As the child grows, he  undergoes such a rapid succession of physical and hormonal changes and can benefit from periodic treatments from an osteopath.

Among the treatable pathologies: lordosis and scoliosis , postural problems related to varicose knees and flattened arches , prevent hallux valgus and pronation or abnormal supinations of the foot, digestive problems , generalized muscle tension, problems with the hearing system , with repercussions also on balance , respiratory system problems , with asthma, sinusitis.

Osteopathy can also be helpful in cases of myopia or strabismus, dental malocclusions , sleep and attention disorders .