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Osteopathy is a holistic approach to healthcare that emphasizes the interconnectedness of the body's structure and function. It focuses on diagnosing, treating, and preventing illness or injury by manipulating the musculoskeletal system with manual techniques *
Osteopathy is a holistic approach to healthcare that emphasizes the interconnectedness of the body's structure and function. It focuses on diagnosing, treating, and preventing illness or injury by manipulating the musculoskeletal system with manual techniques *
"When you have adjusted the physical to its own demand, nature supplies its own."*
"When you have adjusted the physical to its own demand, nature supplies its own."*
Andrew Taylor Still, Founder of Osteopathy
History of Osteopathy *
In the last quarter of the 19th century, an American rural physician, Andrew Taylor Still, formalized principles which still guide the osteopathic profession:
A body is a unit of dynamic interaction between physical body, mind, and spirit.
An inherent property of this dynamic interaction is the body's capacity for self-regulation and self-healing.
The obstruction to unimpeded flow of body fluids and nerve impulses can challenge this capacity.
The musculoskeletal system significantly influences the individual’s ability to restore this inherent capacity and, therefore, resist disease processes.
Today, we define osteopathy as a drug-free, non-invasive manual therapy that aims to improve health across all body systems by manipulating and strengthening the musculoskeletal framework. Manual therapy means that both diagnosis and treatment are carried out with the hands. An osteopath will focus on the joints, muscles, and spine, with the treatment positively affecting the body's nervous, circulatory and lymphatic systems.
What is Animal Osteopathy?*
Once recognition of osteopathy as a healing system spread, it eventually became clear that treatment so successful in humans could be applied with equal success to animals. Through the use of specific techniques developed in human osteopathy, osteopathic treatment addresses the structural and physical needs of an animal to relieve pain, improve movement and prevent injury.
Unlike humans, animals cannot tell us about their pain. Osteopathic reasoning is largely based on careful observation and manual examination. For example, a horse will communicate their discomfort or pain by displaying changes in personality, behaviour, or performance.
How do animal osteopaths work?*
Most animal osteopaths treat horses and dogs, also seeing other companion animals such as cats and rabbits. Some specialist animal osteopaths treat farm animals, exotic, and zoo animals.
Equines and canines that perform a sport or rigorous physical exercise, such as racehorses, show jumping horses and ponies, and working dogs, benefit from a visit by an animal osteopath. Many performance horses and dogs are also helped prepare for racing or competition.
Communication is essential, as it is frequently necessary to communicate with veterinarians and other animal healthcare professionals. Animal osteopaths commonly work alongside vets.
Osteopathy for animals is becoming very popular among animal trainers and owners.
What to expect during an Osteopathic treatment:
Physical assessment
An osteopath uses their eyes (observation) and hands (touch) to identify tension or restriction in the musculoskeletal system. Engaging specific diagnostic techniques, an osteopath will assess the joints, muscles and spine for causes of pain or poor performance. Based on this assessment, an animal osteopath will formulate a treatment plan. Before any active therapy begins, all information is recorded in a case history form.
Treatment
An osteopath will gently work on the joints and muscles to improve blood flow and regulate nerve supply, rebalancing the body’s structures and restoring function. The objective of osteopathic treatment is to promote mobility, flexibility and the quality of movement vital to every horse and dog.
Prevention and maintenance
Regular osteopathic care has shown to be successful in injury prevention and aiding rehabilitation in conditions such as arthritis, hind and fore leg lameness. Benefits of osteopathic manual therapy include increase in vascular and lymphatic drainage, pain reduction, improvement in joint mobility and overall biomechanics, stress reduction, overall health and longevity.
FROM THE LCAO WEBSITE (London College of Animal Osteopathy)
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