Osteopathy is an established system of diagnosis and treatment that lays it's main emphasis on the structural integrity of the body. It is distinctive in the fact that it recognises much of the pain and disability we suffer stems from abnormalities in the function of the body structure as well as damage caused to it by diseases. It uses many of the diagnostic procedures involved in conventional medical assessment and diagnosis. Its main strength, however, lies in the unique way the patient is assessed from a mechanical, functional and postural standpoint and the manual methods of treatment applied to suit the needs of the individual patient. Osteopathy is a 'hands on' manual therapy and one of the oldest approaches to treatment of injuries in the joints, muscles ligaments, fascia and tendons. Treatment can improve many parts of the body by restoring normal movement in areas that have become dysfunctional. This allows the tissues to nourish, replenish and repair themselves more naturally. After a specific injury to a part of the anatomy, the body accomodates by adjusting the posture to the most pain free position whilst placing the eyes firmly on the horizon. The final adjustment is in the delicate area of the neck and back of the head.
