OSTEOPATHY

 

Joint problems and low back pain impact more between the age of 30 to 60.  Osteopathy is a holistic manual treatment that can complement any treatment procedures to fasten recovery from any joint, muscular, organ, spinal and neural problems. 

• Osteopathy uses a drug-free, non-invasive form of manual medicine that focuses on the health of the whole body, not just the injured or affected part.
• The osteopathic physician focuses on the joints, muscles, and spine.
• Osteopathic intervention can help treat arthritis, back pain, headaches, tennis elbow, digestive issues, and postural problems.
• Treatment can also assist with sleep cycles and the nervous, circulatory, and lymphatic symptoms
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What is Osteopathy

Osteopathy is a way of detecting, treating and preventing health problems by moving, stretching and massaging a person's muscles and joints. Osteopathy is based on the principle that the wellbeing of an individual depends on their bones, muscles, ligaments and connective tissue functioning smoothly together.

Students learn about expert hands-on as well as therapeutic techniques to improve circulation and correct postural problems and misalignments without using drugs or invasive procedures like surgery, etc. Also, how the right nutrition and yoga are integral to the regular well-being routine. 

1. An osteopath’s range of action is wider than other doctors. They consider the body as one whole unit. 
2. Osteopaths diagnose body structures that cause symptoms and diseases. Treatment processes restore the body’s inherent mechanisms to heal.
3. Osteopaths treat with the help of detailed knowledge of Anatomy and Physiology and all subjects of modern medicine. They use their highly trained hands as tools to achieve the desired results of proper alignment of bones and muscles, soft tissues and most importantly the fluids in our systems like lymphatics and the arterial system, and the cerebrospinal fluid.

Osteopaths use physical manipulation, stretching and massage with the aim of:

• increasing the mobility of joints
• relieving muscle tension
• reducing pain
• enhancing the blood supply to tissues
• helping the body to heal

They use a range of techniques, but not medicines or surgery.

When it's used

Most people who see an osteopath do so for help with conditions that affect the muscles, bones and joints, such as:

• lower back pain
• uncomplicated neck pain (as opposed to neck pain after an injury such as whiplash)
• shoulder pain and elbow pain (for example, tennis elbow)
• arthritis
• problems with the pelvis, hips and legs
• sports injuries
• muscle and joint pain associated with driving, work or pregnancy

If you're pregnant, make sure you seek advice from a GP or midwife about your symptoms before you see an osteopath. You should also make sure you see an osteopath who specialises in muscle or joint pain during pregnancy.

Effectiveness of osteopathy

Most research into techniques used in osteopathy tends to focus on general "manual therapy" techniques, such as spinal manipulation. Manual therapy techniques are used by physiotherapists and chiropractors, as well as osteopaths.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines on managing lower back pain and sciatica recommend manual therapy alongside exercise as a treatment option.

NICE also recommends manual therapy as a possible treatment option for osteoarthritis, although osteopathy is not specifically mentioned.

There's some evidence to suggest that osteopathy may be effective for some types of neck, shoulder or lower-limb pain, some types of headache, and recovery after hip or knee operations.

There's only limited or no scientific evidence that it's an effective treatment for conditions unrelated to the bones and muscles (musculoskeletal system), including:

• asthma
• period pain
• digestive disorders
• depression
• excessive crying in babies (colic)
• glue ear
• problems affecting the jaw (temporomandibular disorder)
• abnormal curvature of the spine (scoliosis)
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OSTEOARTHRITIS KNEE

What is osteoarthritis of the knee?

Osteoarthritis of the knee happens when the cartilage in your knee joint breaks down, enabling the bones to rub together. The friction makes your knees hurt, become stiff and sometimes swell. While osteoarthritis in the knee can’t be cured, there are many treatments to slow its progress and ease your symptoms. Surgery is an option for more severe forms of osteoarthritis

How common is osteoarthritis of the knee?

Osteoarthritis of the knee is very common. Approximately 46% of people will develop it during their lifetimes.

Who is affected by osteoarthritis of the knee?

Women are more likely than men to develop osteoarthritis of the knee. Most people develop this condition after age 40. But other factors such as injury or genetics can cause it to happen earlier.

How does osteoarthritis in the knee affect my body?

Knee pain is the most common symptom of osteoarthritis in the knee, making it painful for you to jog, run, climb stairs or kneel. It can also make your knees feel stiff or swollen. Over time, osteoarthritis of the knee can change the shape of your knee joint, making your joint feel unstable or wobbly.

What causes osteoarthritis of the knee?

Osteoarthritis of the knee happens when your knee joint cartilage wears out or is damaged. Articular cartilage is tough, rubbery tissue on the ends of your bones that lets you bend and move. Meniscal cartilage absorbs shock from pressure on your knee.

Your cartilage is like your car’s shock absorber, protecting your car from bumps and jolts. Drive on lots of rough roads, your shocks wear out fast. Drive on easy streets, your shocks last longer. You can wear out or damage your knee joint cartilage if:

• You’re overweight. If your body mass index (BMI) is 30 or more, you’re seven times more likely to develop osteoarthritis in your knee than someone with a lower BMI.
• You injure your knee or have an old knee injury.
• You frequently put stress on your knee at your job or playing sports.
• You inherited a tendency to develop osteoarthritis of the knee.
• You have crooked bones or joints, such as having knocked knees.

  What are the symptoms of osteoarthritis in the knee?

  Pain is the most common symptom of osteoarthritis in the knee. Your knee might hurt when you move it, or even when you are just sitting still. Other symptoms are:

  • Your knee feels stiff, particularly when you first get up or when you’ve been sitting for a long time.
  • Your knee looks swollen or feels puffy.
  • You hear a cracking or grinding noise when you move your knee.
  • Your knee feels wobbly, as if it could buckle or “give out."
  • Your knee might lock up, or feel as if it is stuck.

    

    
    

    How is osteoarthritis of the knee diagnosed?

    Your healthcare provider will do a physical examination and ask about your medical history. The physical examination might include checks to see:

    • If your knee joint area is red or sore.
    • If there’s a sign you injured your knee.
    • How much you can move your knee. This is called your range of motion.
    • If your knee feels "loose," which can mean your joint isn’t stable.
    • The way you walk, in case you have gait problems that affect your knee. A gait problem is when you don’t walk as you would normally.

    What tests do healthcare providers use to diagnose this condition?

    • X-ray.
    • Magnetic resonance imagery (MRI).
    • Blood tests.
    • Joint aspiration (arthrocentesis).

      MANAGEMENT AND TREATMENT

      How do you treat osteoarthritis of the knee?

      Treatment might include nonsurgical treatments, injections and surgery. Typically, healthcare providers try non-surgical treatments before recommending surgery.

      Non-surgical treatments include:

      • Using pain medications.
      • Doing physical therapy.
      • Maintaining a healthy weight.
      • Using a knee brace.
      • Using orthotics such as insoles or special footwear.
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      Surgical treatments include:

      • Cartilage grafting. Healthy cartilage is used to fill a hole in your cartilage.
      • Knee osteotomy.
      • Partial knee replacement.
      • Total knee replacement.

      What factors do healthcare providers consider when recommending surgery?

      Your provider might recommend surgery if:

      • Your symptoms aren’t better after non-surgical treatments such as medication and physical therapy.
      • Your symptoms affect your quality of life.
      • Tests show your knee joint is beginning to disintegrate.

        healthcare provider?

        You should contact your provider if your knee hurts for no reason, or you have knee pain that’s getting worse.

        When should I seek immediate medical attention?

        You should go to the emergency room or contact your healthcare provider if your knee hurts and feels warm to the touch or your skin looks red. These are signs you might have an infection.

        What questions should I ask my healthcare provider?

        • Why does my knee hurt?
        • Will I always be in pain?
        • Will my other symptoms get worse?
        • Will I need surgery?
        • I have to be on my feet at my job. Will I be able to keep working?
        • Will I be able to jog or run after treatment?

        FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

        Can osteoarthritis of the knee cause pain in my hip, leg or calf?

        Osteoarthritis of the knee can weaken your calf, thigh and hip muscles, but there’s no indication this muscle weakness is painful.

        Does osteoarthritis of the knee cause bone pain?

        Osteoarthritis of the knee causes your leg bones to rub together, which can lead to painful bone spurs.

        A note from Cleveland Clinic

        Osteoarthritis of the knee develops over time. You might not notice the twinge or ache that could be the first sign of knee osteoarthritis. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have knee pain that’s getting worse. Your provider can help you treat your symptoms and keep you moving. Early treatment can ease the symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee and slow its progress.

        

        
        

        

        
        

Dryneedling

Dry needling therapy is a type of physical therapy developed by contemporary practitioners of Western medicine. Dry needling treats muscular pain with the insertion of very thin and fine (filoform) stainless steel needles into well-defined points within the affected muscle. This precise intramuscular stimulation can be very effective in promoting healing, relieving pain, and improving range of motion, all without the use of drugs or medication.

This type of therapy may be particularly attractive for patients who are sensitive to pain medication or for those whose pain levels have not improved even after multiple session of other physical therapy, rest, exercise, or surgery. Dry needling increasingly has been finding usage among patients with chronic conditions that have resulted in long-lasting pain.

 

Other names for dry needling therapy include:

• myofascial trigger point dry needling
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• tendi muscular dryneedling

• sports dryneedling. 

• Neuromuscular Dryneedling.

 

Dry needling, in contrast, is based upon contemporary studies of modern Western anatomy, including of the skeletal, muscular, and nervous systems of the human body.  Generally, dry needling is used only to treat and manage muscular pain.

 

Although dry needling does not acknowledge the existence of chi or meridians, the myriad nerves, motor points, and trigger points identified as targets of dry needling do correspond roughly to the classic map of acupuncture points used in traditional acupuncture.

 

 

Physiological effects of dry needling

From a purely medical perspective, whether in search of a concentration of chi or a neuromuscular/myofascial trigger point, the physiological effect of inserting a needle through a patient’s skin will have the same effect on the body’s immune system.

 

1. The needle creates a minor tissue puncture injury.                                                                                                                                         
2. The injury causes inflammation at the site (characterized by redness, swelling, pain, and heat).                                                            
3. The inflammation stimulates the body to increase amount of blood flowing to the injury site, which also automatically increases the oxygen supply, which in turn leads to more rapid healing.

 

When properly inserted in to the correct trigger point in the targeted muscle, the dry needle will trigger what is known as the local twitch response: the involuntary contraction of the band of taught muscle fibers within the muscle. Once this reflex has been triggered, the following additional physiological benefits can occur:

 

• Decrease in the amount of spontaneous electrical activity generated by the treated muscles

• Decrease of the length tension of the muscle fibers

• Increased blood flow and oxygenation

• Decrease in pain, triggered by a decrease in both SP (substance P) and CGRP (Calcitonin gene-related peptide)

• Hyperstimulation analgesia: the stimulation of both large myelinated fibers , as well as C-fibers, achieved indirectly via the release of inflammatory mediators

 

Dry needling therapy in practice

Dry needling therapy has been used throughout the world for years. It is an accepted treatment in use by physical therapists in most US states, for the treatment of the following conditions and more:

 

• Acute and chronic injuries

• Headaches

• Neck and back pain

• Tendinitis

• Muscle spasms

• Sciatica

• Hip and knee pain

• Muscle strains

• Fibromyalgia

• Elbow pain

• PFPS (Runner's Knee)

• Overuse injuries

 

As a tool for physical therapists, the use of dry needling allows for the precise targeting of deep tissues that cannot be reached by surface touch. By using the file form needles to release or inactivate trigger points, therapists have a powerful tool to relieve pain and improve range of motion.

 

Dry needling may improve pain control, reduce muscle tension, and normalize dysfunctions of the motor end plates (the locations from which nerve impulses are sent to muscles)—all of which can speed a patient's return to active rehabilitation.

 

Whether dry needling therapy is viewed as an evolution of traditional Chinese medicine, or as a relatively new field developed by contemporary Western medical practice, this technique—whatever form or description it has taken through history—has been helping millions of people for thousands of years.  It is a safe, tested, and medication-free option for the successful treatment of pain.

 

If you are interested in learning more about dry needling as a therapy option contact RegAine physiotherapy and rehabilitation center.09733070839.njauanta.pt@gmail.com.