WELCOME

What is osteopathy? Osteopathy is a philosophy of medicine that acknowledges every person is a unit of mind, body, and spirit. Osteopaths are taught that the human body is capable of healing itself, and are taught to ask why disease has developed. In many cases, disease comes from a disruption in blood flow or lymphatic drainage, neurologic compression, a lifestyle that does not promote healing, or a change in the physiology that can be addressed through a hands on approach known as Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) or Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT). 

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Andrew Taylor Still, MD, DO, the founder (or “discoverer”) of osteopathy, named it osteo- (bone) -pathy (disease) because he developed his understanding of the body through the shapes and grooves of the bones, and accessed those same bones to remove restrictions to allow for proper motion of the body’s structures and its fluids.

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Common conditions for which people seek osteopathic treatment include musculoskeletal/body pain, stiffness/motion restrictions, nerve compression (eg carpal tunnel), constipation, reflux, shortness of breath, frequent infections, edema (decreased lymphatic drainage), headaches, concussion-related symptoms, vertigo, eustachian tube dysfunction, pregnancy related discomfort, pre-operative health optimization, aid in post-operative healing, rebalancing after dental work or adjustments in dental devices, trauma, anxiety, fatigue, autonomic dysfunction, or feeling generally off and not having a diagnosis to explain why.

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Some children-specific issues include feeding or latching issues, colic, plagiocephaly, torticollis, and scoliosis.

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While most people primarily think about osteopathic care for their pain complaints, in its core philosophy, the goal of osteopathy is to help restore proper physiologic function, and can be helpful for many issues. Often people will seek an osteopath because they need more precise hands-on assistance with and whole body view of a mechanical or structural issue that isn't improving with current management. The above is a short list and not all-inclusive. 

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If you're wondering if osteopathic treatment makes sense for you and what to expect, please read through the rest of our website. If you still have questions after reading, contact us.

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For a deeper understanding of the osteopathic philosophy, I recommend the Osteopathy Unplugged podcast.