Osteopathy aims to intervene on:
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Athlete's re-education
Sprains, pubalgia, tendinitis, muscle contractures, epicondylitis, pre- and post-race treatment, joint and fascia rebalancing, functional bandages.
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Musculoskeletal treatments
Whiplash, hernia, sciatica, periarthritis, recurrent pain, acute and chronic neck pain, postural asymmetries, temporomandibular dysfunction.
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Rebalancing during pregnancy
Low back pain, pubalgia, rebalancing of the pelvis and spine in preparation for childbirth, postpartum evaluation of the pelvic floor.
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Child treatment
Evaluation of functional asymmetries in newborns (due to cesarean section), gas colic, plagiocephaly, postural asymmetries, hyperactivity, frequent ear infections.
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Reducing symptoms through visceral rebalancing
Constipation, adolescent amenorrhea, gastroesophageal reflux, irritable bowel syndrome, digestive difficulties, diaphragmatic tension, scar treatment.
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Craniosacral treatment
Insomnia, headaches, migraines, cephalgias, dizziness, tinnitus, ringing in the ears, sinusitis, developmental paramorphisms (scoliosis, curved back, hyperkyphosis).
The posture
La physiological posture ensures balance at rest and in movement with minimal energy expenditure.
It is the result of communication between the body sensors (which perceive variations in the force of gravity and the position of the head in space) and muscles of the spine and lower limbs.
The postural balance It is the relationship between the subject and the environment; the subject assumes the ideal posture with respect to the environmental situation and according to neuromotor patterns.
It depends on a series of coordinated reflex mechanisms that maintain it.
Stomatognathic system
For stomatognathic system This refers to the functional complex made up of organs and tissues that perform digestive (salivation, chewing, swallowing), respiratory (phonation) and relational (mimicry) functions.
It is integrated into the complex postural system by which it in turn is influenced.
The entire system is highly innervated and rich in various types of receptors that send continuous information about posture to our brain.
The muscle chains
Kabath He states that the brain only knows motor processes, not individual muscles. This means that the central nervous system controls the body by reasoning. depending on the movement.
Psychological factors can alter the functionality of muscle chains, which in turn influence the dominant myofascial chains.
muscle chains originate from the skull: this means that a masticatory alteration necessarily has repercussions on posture.
The musculature is programmed in such a way as to create an environment as suitable as possible for the function of the affected organ.
The Craniosacral Model
The skull should not be considered as a simple containment box: it is a complex system composed of many bones articulated together by sutures that remain mobile throughout life.
Cranial mobility is necessary to compensate for a cyclical movement performed by the brain masses called Cranial Rhythmic Impulse (CRI).
Like all joints, sutures can also suffer from a dysfunction and therefore lead to a functional block of a specific sector or of the skull as a whole.
Since the muscle chains that influence global posture originate from the skull, one can understand how important it is that the functionality of cranial micro-movements remains intact.
In summary:
- The human body, with the upright position, is in continuous unstable equilibrium; this means that there are mechanisms that prevent the body from falling.
- Movement is managed and organized by muscle chains which all originate from the skull and travel throughout the body through muscles, fascia, tendons and internal organs.
- Even the visceral organs (intestine, liver, etc.) can influence posture and the effectiveness of movement, this is established by anatomical-functional relationships between the skeletal system, muscle chains, and viscera. For example, if you experience stomach pain, your body will defend itself by positioning the torso in forward flexion. This will significantly stress the spinal joints and muscles.
- The conductor itself can take various shapes, in bare or tinned copper, with or without insulation. In some cases, a preferential bend can also be applied to the joint so that it operates exactly as designed. scars, especially those resulting from surgical operations, can alter the muscle chains, as they create a fixed point between multiple layers of fascial tissue, causing abnormal tensions even in various points far from the scar.
What causes muscle chain dysfunction?
- Altered chewing mechanism (pre-contact, malocclusion, etc.)
- Altered swallowing mechanism (often due to failure to breastfeed). It should be remembered that swallowing disorders can cause: headaches and nightmares, adenoid hypertrophy, scoliosis, flat feet, and recurrent ear infections.
- Scars, especially those caused by abdominal operations.
- Visceral dysfunction: if an organ involved in a chain does not function physiologically or is poorly positioned (for example renal ptosis) it can cause an alteration to the chain itself, thus leading to a decompensation.
- Cranial dysfunction (that is, when one or more cranial sutures engage and do not allow adaptive micro movements of the skull).
- Anxiety states and alterations of the respiratory mechanism.
How to fix it?
Important: Before contacting an osteopath, always discuss the problem with your doctor.
It is essential to understand exactly which chain is disturbed, how it is disturbed, and above all what caused the disturbance.
At this point the intervention will have to be aimed at the problem itselfIf the problem is caused by precontact or malpositioned teeth, you should consult a dentist or orthodontist; if the problem is related to swallowing or speaking, you should consult a speech therapist.
In general, the professionals who can intervene in a postural alteration are: dentists, orthodontists, speech therapists, ophthalmologists, ENT specialists, and all those who work in the healthcare field with a holistic view of the person.
Among all these, theosteopath represents one of the most important figures, as it has a global and comprehensive vision of the organism, but above all it can intervene decisively on dysfunctional chains using its manual skills.
The best approach is teamwork between the osteopath and other professionals. Only in this way can the problem be addressed and treated effectively.
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