Did you know that you can come to an osteopath not only to treat issues, but to prevent problems?
Many of the concerns we treat as osteopaths develop over time, creating compensations that eventually lead to the symptoms that prompt people to go and see an osteopath.
Preventative osteopathic care can be defined as regular osteopathic treatments that are aimed at maintaining optimal function in the body and preventing dysfunction. Having regular check ups with your osteopath can prevent pains and injuries by improving body’s alignment and function, reducing the likelihood it will develop into annoying, or even debilitating symptoms.
Even if you’re not aware of it, your body is amazing at keeping you safe and functional as best it can, which often means compensating for daily activities and events with small, unconscious adjustments. As well meaning as the body is, those solutions only work in the moment they are created. Later on, as the compensations pile on one another, they can start to cause symptoms like aches and pains.
Osteopaths take a holistic view on the body and the individual. As such, osteopaths can identify subtle imbalances in the body before they become symptomatic. So if you see your osteopath regularly, there’s a good chance that you can avoid most of these types of issues becoming issues in the first place.
The benefits of addressing these subtle imbalances early include but are not limited to:
Better posture and freer movement
Reducing the risk of injury
Lower stress and improved sleep
Enhanced performance at work and in sports
Our modern conveniences have eased our lives considerably, but it comes with a price to our bodies. Sedentary work, screen use, repetitive movements or very little movement, stress; they all create a physical strain on our bodies. Unless those strains are addressed, they may lead to aches and pains, and even injuries.
Osteopaths take a holistic approach to the person, taking their every day lives and activities into consideration. They will examine the body, the posture, the alignment. They will then use different manual techniques to improve mobility and function. In addition, they will give you guidance on posture, movement habits, workplace ergonomics, stress management, and more.
The frequency and focus of the treatments is individually determined, and will be based on age, activity level, lifestyle and more. This will be discussed with you when you go see an osteopath.
Although I believe that everyone can benefit from preventative healthcare, there are some that may need it more than others. These include desk workers who are at risk of developing postural tension just from their working positions, and staying in them longer periods year in and year out. Active people looking to avoid sports injuries benefit greatly from seeing an osteopath regularly. Pregnant women go through changes in their bodies constantly as the baby grows. Osteopathy can help keep up with the changes and avoid back and pelvic pain, among others, as well as prepare for giving birth and help with recovery afterwards. It’s also good to bring the newborns for a check up, after all, the birthing process is a lot for their systems as well. Lastly, adults in the latter half of their lives benefit from regular visits to help maintain joint health and balance, which in turn helps to avoid falls and injuries.
Catching something early is better than working on something that’s been going on for longer in the hopes it’ll pass. The earlier we can treat it, the less treatments are generally needed, and the less it will cost, not to mention you’ll be back to your normal routines and activities faster.
How often should you then go and see your osteopath? That depends on many factors, like age, activity level, lifestyle, stress levels and what is going on in the body. As a rule, the maintenance sessions are often 1-3 months apart.
So, osteopathy isn’t just for fixing problems, it’s for helping you stay well and ahead of problems. Where could you benefit from proactive healthcare?
Call us to see how we can help you stay healthy and active through your life.
