Manual Osteopathic Therapy at Calgary SW

Unlocking the Potential of Your Body’s Healing Abilities

runner tricep stretch Are you seeking a holistic approach to healthcare that can improve your overall well-being? At Precision Spinal Care, we’re proud to offer Manual Osteopathic Therapy (MOT) for patients, a specialized form of therapy that focuses on the musculoskeletal system and its profound impact on your health.

The Principles of MOT

At its core, MOT aims to restore the body’s natural equilibrium of form and function, enabling it to regain optimal health. With a goal of treating the root causes rather than just the symptoms, MOT practitioners delve deep into the mechanical disruptions within the body that may be causing discomfort or dysfunction, whether symptoms are present or not.

The Four Founding Principles of MOT serve as its guiding pillars, illuminating the essence pathway of this therapeutic approach:

1. The Body Works as a Single Connected Entity

2. Structural Impacts are Interrelated with Function

3. The Body Has Self-Governing Means

4. The Body Can Protect, Repair, and Regenerate Itself to restore function

What to Expect During MOT

When you begin MOT, you’ll experience a unique combination of techniques and principles designed to bring your body back to its natural state of balance. You can expect things like:

Structural Assessment

During your session, we will perform a thorough evaluation of your posture, alignment, and range of motion. This assessment helps identify areas of dysfunction or restriction within your musculoskeletal system.

Manual Techniques

Using our hands, we’ll employ a variety of techniques tailored to your specific needs. These techniques may include gentle stretching, targeted pressure, and manipulation to restore mobility, alleviate pain, improve circulation, and enhance your body’s capacity to heal.

Holistic Approach

MOT treats the body as an interconnected whole, recognizing that health issues in one area can impact other parts of the body. By addressing the root causes rather than focusing solely on symptoms, MOT aims for comprehensive healing and long-term well-being.

bent knees with bones showing

Manual Osteopathic Techniques

During your tailored treatments you may experience any of the following techniques. Imbalances found are gently treated with techniques that engage the dysfunctional tissue until function is normalized.

Cranial-sacral Osteopathy

This technique addresses the vitality and mobility of the dural membranes and cerebrospinal fluid which nourish and protect the brain and spinal cord and influence nutrient exchange at a cellular level throughout the entire body. Often used to treat mental stress, neck and back pain, TMJ and other chronic pain conditions.

Myofascial Release

Works with restrictions of the muscles, fascia and connective tissues, normalizing these important structural tissues. By relaxing contracted muscles, myofascial release helps to improve circulation, promote lymphatic drainage, and stimulate the stretch reflex of muscles and the overlying fascia. This therapy is used to restore range of motion, decrease pain, and help muscles function fully.

Osteoarticular Mobilizations

In this technique, the therapist will passively move a skeletal joint to gently restore its function and relieve any restriction.

Visceral Manipulation

This includes gentle but direct work to the organs and viscera and their ligamentous and fascial attachments to relieve pain and improve function.

Muscle Energy Release

In muscle energy release, the patient moves specific muscles from a precise position in a certain direction against the therapist’s counterforce. The muscle’s own energy is used in the form of gentle isometric contractions to relax and lengthen the muscle. This is used to improve range of motion and treat chronic muscle pain, stiffness or injury.

Patient-Centered Care

MOT puts you, the patient, at the center of your treatment journey. Our team will work closely with you to develop personalized treatment plans that take into account your unique circumstances and goals. They also emphasize patient education and self-care strategies, empowering you to actively participate in your own wellness.

View Our Manual Osteopathic Therapy FAQ’s »

Meet Our Therapist, Dakota

Dakota, a Manual Osteopathic Therapist, is driven by a deep passion for helping patients and solving health puzzles. She focuses on addressing the root causes of symptoms and dysfunction. Dakota’s goal is to restore bodily tissues and systems to their optimal function, improving the body’s natural healing ability. She’s skilled in treating a wide range of conditions, from musculoskeletal issues to sleep disturbances. Dakota’s education includes a Bachelor’s degree from Mount Royal University and a Diploma in Manual Osteopathic Practice from the Manual Osteopathic College of Canada. She’s also a certified professional kinesiologist and a member of professional associations. In her treatments, she employs various techniques like craniosacral therapy and joint mobilizations to improve patients’ well-being. Dakota’s career is driven by the satisfaction of making a positive impact on her patients’ lives.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Manual Osteopathic Therapy?

Manual Osteopathic Therapy is a holistic approach to pain relief and overall well-being. It involves a thorough examination of the body to identify any imbalances or dysfunctions that may be contributing to pain or discomfort. The therapist uses gentle, hands-on techniques to target these areas and restore balance. Many people experience immediate relief and improved mobility after a session. Manual Osteopathic Therapy aims to support the body’s natural healing processes and promote overall wellness.

What Can a Manual Osteopathic Therapist Treat?

Some of the conditions that can be treated by a Manual Osteopathic Therapist include headaches, arthritis, back pain, neck pain, sciatica, tennis and golfer’s elbow, foot, ankle, hip, and knee pain, neuralgia, hand, shoulder, and elbow pain, as well as problems with posture related to digestive issues, pregnancy, sports injuries, driving, or work strain. By utilizing specific manual techniques, a Manual Osteopathic Therapist can help alleviate these conditions and improve overall well-being.

What can I expect from a manual osteopathic session?

In your first session, you can expect to go over your health history with the MOT as well as having a discussion about what your needs are. An assessment will be done, which includes observation of posture and tests to determine where treatment will be most indicated. With the remaining time, a treatment will be given. In subsequent appointments, there will be a brief assessment (in order to see what changes have occurred and again, to guide the process), and more time will be spent on treatment, which can take place with you sitting, lying face up, face down, or on your side.

How Does Manual Osteopathy Help Posture?

When posture is poor, it can affect your neck, back, hips and knees. MOT’s use manual (hands-on) techniques to mobilize your joints and stretch your muscles. This helps to correct your posture in the short term, but they also provide posture correcting exercises and advice for maintaining proper posture in the long term. Caring for your posture can help reduce the intensity of certain body aches and pains connected to poor posture.

How will a Manual Osteopathic Therapist help me?

A Manual Osteopathic Therapist can help you by mobilizing various aspects of your body, including bones, joints, tissues, fascia, fluids, and organs. Their hands-on approach aims to release tight muscles, improve joint mobility, and restore the flow of nerves, blood vessels, lymph, and spinal fluid. By addressing blockages and restrictions, the therapist supports the body’s self-healing abilities. Each treatment is unique, tailored to your specific condition as evaluated by the practitioner. During your one-on-one sessions, the therapist takes the time to understand your reasons for seeking treatment and may provide guidance on lifestyle changes such as ergonomics, diet, and exercise. This comprehensive approach considers you as a whole person.

How will you treat my primary concern?

No two osteopathic treatments are the same. Based on your overall health, energy level, stress, previous injuries and pain, treatment for your current concern may utilize soft tissue therapies from massage, fascial stretch or manipulation, joint mobilization, visceral (organ) work, and/or cranial-sacral techniques. Treatments may occur in a lying or sitting position and are generally comfortable for the patient.

Experience the Transformative Effects

Whether you’re seeking relief from musculoskeletal pain, back or neck issues, joint problems, sciatica, headaches, migraines, TMJ, digestive disturbances, insomnia, tinnitus, or more, Manual Osteopathic Therapy offers a comprehensive approach to promoting and restoring balance within your body.

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