Osteopathy is a manual therapy that relies on the anatomical, biomecanical and physiological knowledge of the human body, for the restoration and preservation of health, as well as the prevention of disease.
Based on a thorough clinical examination and the use of all diagnostic means, it detects dysfunctions such as the absence or diminution of the mobility of the tissues, which ultimately alter the organism’s balance.
Osteopathic principles
Osteopathy examines the individual as a whole and always looks for the cause of the disorder or dysfunction through a holistic approach rather than only a symptomatic approach. The person is considered as a whole, by looking at its physical, chemical and emotional aspects, with a totally interdependent structure (anatomy) and function (physiology).
It also places special emphasis on the good circulation of fluids throughout the body. A decrease in this circulation implies a decrease in the defense capacity of the tissues, providing a favorable ground for the appearance of a dysfunction or the difficulty of tissue recoverin.
The osteopathic practice, through the manipulations of structure, muscle and connective tissue, contemplates structural, visceral, neurological, endocrine and immunological dysfunctions. Its objective is to try to restore the global balance of the individual (homeostasis), in accordance with its anatomophysiological environment, respecting the general principles of medicine and creating space for the organisms’ self-healing mechanisms to do their job.
Osteopathy believes that health depends on maintaining the right relationships between different parts of the body. According to the osteopathic theory, the alterations of the neuromuscular-skeletal system can influence the natural function of the organs and vice versa.