Q1: What inspired you to become an osteopath?
A single osteopathy session is not sufficient to optimize the patient's health. It is important to involve the patient in their healing process. It is not the therapist who heals, but the therapist/patient teamwork that optimizes the individual's health.
In addition to osteopathic treatment, it is important to consider the emotional, mental, and environmental aspects of health.
Nutrition, for example, plays a central role in health and well-being. Proper hydration, a healthy diet, and a balanced and regular sleep schedule contribute to adopting a healthier lifestyle.
Stress management and relaxation moments are essential for maintaining physical and mental balance. Conscious and deep breathing, meditation, yoga, and visualization are useful tools that can help during periods of stress.
The mind-body relationship must be integrated by the patient to enhance the healing process. A positive attitude, daily gratitude practice, and developing body awareness are important for better understanding and listening to the body's messages.
Additionally, it is important to acknowledge that the environment plays a crucial role in health. Therefore, it is important to limit exposure to environmental toxins as much as possible.
Q2: Could you explain what an osteopathy session entails for those who are not familiar with this practice?
A traditional osteopathy session is an individual and personalized consultation during which musculoskeletal issues are assessed, diagnosed, and treated. However, there is a slightly more holistic approach to osteopathy that aims to also integrate the patient's psycho-emotional state.
In the integrative osteopathy that I practice, we have complementary notions such as psycho-somatics, quantum energy medicine, and traditional Chinese medicine; which allow us to have an even broader view of the human being. With this approach, we integrate emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects into an individual's physical plan.
After a thorough physical examination assessing posture, mobility, and body tone, we can apply manual treatment aimed at addressing areas of tension or restriction in the body. Techniques such as joint manipulations, muscle stretching, myofascial release techniques, or gentle mobilizations are applied during the session.
At the end of the session, it is common to provide advice on posture, ergonomics, nutrition, or other aspects of a healthy lifestyle. Follow-up may be recommended based on the patient's condition and the body's response to treatment.
Q3: What are the fundamental principles of osteopathy and how do you apply them in your practice?
Osteopathy was founded by Andrew Taylor Still and is based on 4 fundamental principles:
Structure governs function and vice versa: By structure, we mean the musculoskeletal and tissue systems in general; and by function, the more physiological and biomechanical aspect of the body. It is important to address any movement restrictions or imbalances that may disrupt the harmony of the interconnectedness of all systems in the body.
The law of the artery is supreme: This means that all circulation (whether it be blood, lymphatic, or nervous) should flow smoothly throughout the body. During treatment, we aim to release compression points that may hinder the proper circulation of these fluidic systems.
The body has self-healing mechanisms: It has a physiological capacity to regenerate the entire human body. We see this clearly when we cut ourselves; the skin heals itself instantly.
Wholeness of the individual: Both on a physical and psycho-energetic level, it is important to keep in mind the interconnections between different parts of the body. A human being is not just a mechanical body but also an emotional, mental, spiritual, and social body.
Q4: What are the common conditions or symptoms that you most frequently treat as an osteopath?
As an osteopath, most of my consultations are related to the musculoskeletal system, but I can also address other systems of the body.
The most common symptoms I treat include:
Back pain
Joint pain
Headaches/migraines
Postural disorders
Trauma such as sprains, tendonitis, muscle strains, car accidents
Digestive, uterine, or urinary disorders
States of stress, anxiety, depression
Children's growth monitoring
Pregnancy monitoring until childbirth
Postnatal check-up for infants and mothers
What's great about osteopathy is that even if you don't have any specific pain or issues, it's always beneficial to have a check-up to prevent potential inflammations or postural imbalances.
Regular follow-up for athletes is also highly recommended to optimize their athletic performance.
Q5: What are some common misconceptions about osteopathy that you would like to clarify?
It's true that many misconceptions exist about osteopathy.
One misconception that I am particularly passionate about clarifying is that osteopathy is not solely about joint manipulations, whether structural or vertebral. Personally, I have found that unless there is direct trauma, if a bone structure is locked, it is because something else is influencing it from a distance. It is very rare to "dislocate" or "lock" a joint. However, it is quite common for tissues to become restricted and thus contribute to locking.
It is also common to believe that osteopathy is only reserved for treating the spine or for relieving any kind of pain. Osteopathy is much broader than that and also allows for work on various systems of the body such as the digestive, cranial, respiratory, and many others.
It's important to note that osteopathy is a preventive manual therapy and it's essential to consult even without an apparent reason for consultation. Regular assessment contributes to maintaining good homeostasis and can prevent the sudden onset of severe inflammatory pain.
Q6: What does your holistic approach to health and well-being entail, apart from osteopathy?
A single osteopathy session alone is not enough to optimize the patient's health. It's important to involve the patient in their healing process. It's not the therapist who heals, but the therapist/patient teamwork that optimizes the individual's health.
In addition to osteopathic treatment, it's important to consider the emotional, mental, and environmental aspects of health.
Nutrition, for example, plays a central role in health and well-being. Proper hydration, a healthy diet, and a balanced and regular sleep schedule help adopt a healthier lifestyle.
Stress management and relaxation moments are essential for maintaining physical and mental balance. Conscious and deep breathing, meditation, yoga, and visualization are interesting tools that can help during stressful periods.
The mind-body relationship must be integrated by the patient to enhance the healing process. A positive attitude, daily gratitude practice, and developing body awareness are important for better understanding and listening to the body's messages.
Also, it's important to know that the environment plays a crucial role in health. Therefore, it's important to limit exposure to environmental toxins as much as possible.
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