2023-05-15 12:41:00
You don’t always think about it, but this specialist in manual medicine can be of great help when you have a headache, stomach ache or in case of sleeping troubles.
Can we go see the osteopath if we have trouble sleeping?
Difficulty getting to sleep before 3 a.m.? Tendency to wake up at dawn? The problem may come from a dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system. “Thanks to gentle manipulations – essentially at the level of the thorax, the neck and the skull, rich in nerve endings – osteopathy helps to restore the balance between the sympathetic nervous system, that of wakefulness and action, and the parasympathetic, which controls relaxation and sleep”, says Hakim Mhadhbi, osteopath in charge of the consultation center at the Institute of Osteopathy in Rennes*. If it is rather chronic pain (joint, digestive, back pain, etc.) that disturbs our nights, targeted manipulations make it possible to locate tensions and eliminate them.
- What are the limits ? There are sleep disorders – such as secondary insomnia caused by certain illnesses (sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, hyperthyroidism, etc.) or taking medication (corticoids, antidepressants, etc.) – on which osteopathy can’t do much. According to the expert, “if there is no result after 2 or 3 sessions, no need to insist”.
Sprain: I go to the osteo?
yes thesprain is benign, one can consult an osteo without risk (nor pain), because this one knows how to adapt to the inflammation and to the modifications of the tissues present around the articulation. “Our goal is to limit the stiffness of the ankle that would occur in the absence of support, as well as to recover good mobility and prevent edema”, explains Hakim Mhadhbi. In the event of a poorly treated chronic sprain, we also have everything to gain: “the practitioner checks and corrects – if necessary – the alignment as well as the mobility of all the joints of the lower limb, pelvis and lumbar spine”, continues the osteopath. Thus ‘realigned’, we move better and we have less pain.
- What are the limits ? The osteo obviously cannot do anything – at the time – in the event of fracture orentorse grave, that is to say accompanied by a ligament tear for which immobilization is essential. We can consult it a posteriori, to check that our alignment has not been disturbed. In the event of a problem of hyperlaxity or proprioception, it is better to call on a physiotherapist, who is more effective on these issues.
What can the osteopath do when you have tendonitis?
Regardless of its location (wrist, elbow, shoulder, etc.), osteoarthritis can reduce pain related to inflammation and improve the comfort of the limbs concerned. The treatment initially consists in carrying out mobilizations which improve drainage and vascularization around the tendon. Then, various manipulations make it possible to identify and treat the joints under stress and to rebalance the muscular chains. “We finish by working on the area of the spine containing the nerves connected to the tendon concerned”ajoute Hakim Mhadhbi.
- What are the limits ? If osteopathy helps to recover better, the treatment of choice for tendonitis remains rehabilitation at a physio. The combination of the two techniques is strongly recommended.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)? Go to the osteopath!
Grumpy colon? While osteopathy cannot make irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) disappear, it does provide welcome relief. First step: eliminate tension, in particular by relaxing the diaphragm. Good mobility of this muscle is essential for facilitate digestion. Working on certain parts of the spine, linked to the digestive tract via the nerves, is also a source of calm. Finally, the osteopath can act directly on stress – which amplifies pain and seizures – by regulating the autonomic nervous system. The results are there, since several meta-analyses suggest that so-called visceral osteopathy significantly improves diarrhea, distention and abdominal pain, in the short and long term, in people with IBS.
- What are the limits ? Osteopathy alone is not enough to relieve IBS: it is important to maintain a multidisciplinary approach (diet, stress management, physical activity, etc.).
Can an osteopath treat migraine?
A summary study published in 2022 highlights the effectiveness of osteopathy on reducing the frequency, intensity and duration of headaches (migraines and tension headaches). The techniques used vary according to the origin of the problem (stress, hormonal disorders, joint or muscle tension, etc.), but most often target the skull and neck, with the aim of identifying and releasing tension and stiffness. Osteo can also focus on the diaphragm, the breathing muscle, to improve oxygenation and vascularization of the cerebral area.
- What are the limits ? The causes of migraines are multiple and osteopathy does not work in all cases. If there is no improvement after 4-5 sessions, we give up.
I regularly get sinusitis
When they are chronic, osteopathy is a good complement to drug treatments to improve the ventilation of the respiratory tract and facilitate the flow of secretions and liquids intended to moisten the nasal mucosa. “The practitioner uses techniques of the face and the skull which make it possible to drain the sinuses, to release the zones of tension and to ensure the venous and lymphatic returns.details our expert. In addition to these mechanical and circulatory effects, the manipulations will act on the nervous system, which is also potentially disrupted.”. By working on the spine and neck, the osteopath globally restores mobility to the head.
- What are the limits ? If the sinusitis is of bacterial origin, antibiotic treatment is necessary.
Can an osteopath relieve jaw pain? ?
Cracking, difficulty opening the mouth, teeth grinding, tinnitus, dizziness, neck pain, headaches… can be caused by a problem in the temporomandibular joint, covered with nerves. “We are then interested in the masticatory muscles, which are the most powerful in the body, but also in the neck, shoulders and face.in order to relax them and evacuate tensions, explains Hakim Mhadhbi. By performing painless compressions and stretches, you can also act directly on the joint.
- What are the limits ? The problem must be muscular or articular, because in the event of a fracture, osteopathy is useless (at least in first intention). We also monitor that the pain is not of dental origin or that it does not hide an otitis.
Reflux and osteopathy
In this case, the osteo operates spinal and abdominal manipulations, in order to harmonize the tensions between the diaphragm and the various organs of the abdomen and to prevent acid reflux. Incidentally, these movements reduce stress thanks to their relaxing action on the nerves. “The result is sometimes almost miraculous, especially in children”, says Hakim Mhadhbi. Two studies, published in 2019 and 2022 respectively, confirm that a large number of patients suffering from a gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) is better after consulting an osteo.
- What are the limits ? The technique works less well if the GERD is linked to a hiatal hernia, for example. In case of chronic reflux, ulcer or oesophagitis, a visit to the doctor and medical monitoring are essential.
3 tips for finding a good osteopath
- He is registered with the ARS, the Regional Health Agency. As such, he must have an Adeli identification number.
- He has undergone sufficient and recognized training. That is to say five years of study in one of the accredited schools. Even if it is not obligatory, this indication appears most often on the plate affixed in front of the practice.
- He works hand in hand with other health professionals. Our attending physician or specialist can refer us to an osteopath.
* osteo-rennes.fr
Read also:
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Physio or osteo: which one to consult when you have back pain?
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Can we ask everything from our osteopath?
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