Osteopathic treatment helps to remove physical stresses and restrictions from the body and helps to restore proper blood supply and nerve flow. It also helps the body’s own inherent healing mechanisms express themselves. Given the right opportunity, the body can re-establish balance and health.

At Southpoint Health we use many forms of osteopathic methods, depending on the presentation. Most of our Osteopaths have extensive postgraduate training in  Cranial Osteopathy. This is a very gentle approach that uses the cranial rhythm of the body.  This makes it useful when treating all ages and patients that require a softer approach to more direct techniques.

Osteopathy has been shown to have beneficial effects upon the following:

• Asthma
• Arthritis
• Athletic and sport injuries
• Brachial neuritis
• Dental trauma
• Digestive disorders including reflux, hiatus hernia, gastritis, irritable bowel
• Facial pain
• Insomnia
• Jaw pain and clicking
• Juvenile arthritis
• Juvenile scoliosis
• Migraines and headaches
• Premenstrual tension and infertility
• Pain affecting the neck, back, hip, groin, knee, foot, shoulder, wrist and hand
• Sciatica – a commonly used term which can manifest in different ways.
• “Slipped” discs – this is a commonly used term for a variety of specific conditions.
• Sinusitis
• Swollen limbs e.g. lymphoedema and other circulatory disorders
• Tennis and Golfer’s elbow
• Tinnitus
• and much more…

At Southpoint Health we use many forms of osteopathic methods, depending on the presentation. Most of our Osteopaths have extensive postgraduate training in  Cranial Osteopathy. This is a very gentle approach that uses the cranial rhythm of the body.  This makes it useful when treating all ages and patients that require a softer approach to more direct techniques.

Osteopathy in the Cranial Field

The central nervous system also has its own involuntary rhythmic motion.

The essence of cranial motion is evident even in single celled organisms and is maintaining our vitality from conception to the grave.

There is also a movement of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) around the brain, within the meninges. Brain cells require circulation of the CSF so cells can receive nourishment and oxygen.

Osteopaths at Southpoint have a special interest in this field. It requires many hours of dedication to fine tune palpation skills and a high level of patience including post graduate training that is expensive and time consuming. It requires a special passion to pursue its high demands.

Cranial work is a “calling” that is not for the faint hearted.

It requires a high degree of discipline and humility to tune into the cranial mechanism. A balance and intention that requires many hours of specialty training in this field.  We work with the bones of the cranium, the fascial coverings (meninges), the fluids, and especially the central nervous system (the brain) as well as any other area the body indicates, to access the whole person.

At Southpoint Health we use many forms of osteopathic methods, depending on the presentation. Most of our Osteopaths have extensive postgraduate training in  Cranial Osteopathy. This is a very gentle approach that uses the cranial rhythm of the body.  This makes it useful when treating all ages and patients that require a softer approach to more direct techniques.

 

Dr. William Garner Sutherland D.O.

was the first Osteopath to develop ‘Osteopathy in the Cranial Field’ in 1939 by applying the principles of Osteopathy to the cranium (the skull and jaw).

The intricate anatomy of the human skull is actually designed for motion. This motion is very slight and the trained Osteopath can feel this slight motion. By synchronising with this slight motion, the Cranial Osteopath can help treat the whole body, not just the cranium.

There has been much controversy around the validity of Cranial Osteopathy, yet those who have experienced its potency appreciate and value this method. There has also been extensive research into Cranial Osteopathy. Some of the references are listed below.

There has been much controversy around the validity of Cranial Osteopathy, yet those who have experienced its potency appreciate and value this method. There has also been extensive research into Cranial Osteopathy. Some of the references are listed below.

 

1. Mills MV, Henley CE, Barnes LLB, et al. The use of osteopathic manipulative treatment as adjuvant therapy in children with recurrent acute otitis media. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. 2003;157:861-866.
2. Steele KM, Carreiro JE, Viola JH, et al. Effect of osteopathic manipulative treatment on middle ear effusion following acute otitis media in young children: a      pilot study. J Amer Osteopath Assoc. 2014;114(6): 436-447.
3. Pizzolorusso G, Turi P, Barlafante G, et al. Effect of osteopathic manipulative treatment on gastrointestinal function and length of stay of preterm infants: an exploratory study. Chiropractic and Manual Therapies. 2011;19:15.
4. Cerritelli F, Pizzolorusso G, Ciardelli F, La Mola E, Cozzolino V, Renzeti C, D’Incecco C, Fusilli P, Sabatino G, Barlafante G. Effect of osteopathic manipulative treatment on length of stay in a population of preterm infants: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Pediatrics. 2013;13:65.
5. Shi X, Rehrer S, Prajapati P, et al. Effect of cranial osteopathic manipulative medicine on cerebral tissue oxygenation. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2011;111 (12):660-666.
6. Jäkel A, von Hauenschild P. Therapeutic effects of cranial osteopathic manipulative medicine: a systematic review. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2011;111(12): 685-693.
7. King HH. “As the twig is bent, so grows the tree”: part 2 [review of Lessard S, Gagnon I, Trottier N. Exploring the impact of osteopathic treatment on cranial asymmetries associated with nonsynostotic plagiocephaly in infants. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2011;17(4):193-198]. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2012;112(1):11-12.
8.  Zubcevik N. Cranial palpation pressures used by osteopathy students [letter]. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2009;109(7):379-380. http://www.jaoa.org/content /109/7/379.2.full. Accessed December 29, 2011.
9. Frymann V. Learning difficulties of children viewed in the light of the osteopathic concept. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 1976;76(1):46-61.
10. Frymann VM, Carney RE, Springall P. Effect of osteopathic medical management on neurologic development in children. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 1992;92(6):729-744.Magoun HI. Osteopathy in the Cranial Field. 3rd ed. Kirksville, MO: Journal Printing Co; 1976.
11. Lopez D, King HH, Knebl JA, Kosmopoulos V, Collins D, Patterson RM. Effect of comprehensive osteopathic manipulative treatment on balance in elderly patients: a pilot study. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2011;111(6):382-388.

The French Osteopath Jean-Pierre Barral French developed a system of manual therapy that evaluates and treats using gentle, specifically placed manual forces to encourage normal mobility, tone and inherent tissue motion of the viscera (organs). Factors such as inflammation, infection, trauma, surgery, diet, toxins and emotional stress can cause fascial (connective tissue) strains around the organs disrupting their motion and thus affecting their physiological function.

This in turn sets up abnormal patterns of tension throughout the vast fascial network, the effects of which are often seen far from their sources, as well as detrimentally impacting upon the integrated systems of the musculoskeletal, vascular, nervous, urogenital, respiratory, digestive and lymphatic systems.

By treating the movement dynamics of the fascial system an Osteopath is able to increase proprioceptive communication within the body, thereby relieving patients of symptoms of dysfunction, pain and poor posture.

The French Osteopath Jean-Pierre Barral French developed a system of manual therapy that evaluates and treats using gentle, specifically placed manual forces to encourage normal mobility, tone and inherent tissue motion of the viscera (organs). Factors such as inflammation, infection, trauma, surgery, diet, toxins and emotional stress can cause fascial (connective tissue) strains around the organs disrupting their motion and thus affecting their physiological function.

This in turn sets up abnormal patterns of tension throughout the vast fascial network, the effects of which are often seen far from their sources, as well as detrimentally impacting upon the integrated systems of the musculoskeletal, vascular, nervous, urogenital, respiratory, digestive and lymphatic systems.

By treating the movement dynamics of the fascial system an Osteopath is able to increase proprioceptive communication within the body, thereby relieving patients of symptoms of dysfunction, pain and poor posture.

During the menstrual cycle, pelvic congestion can cause pain, bloating and discomfort in the pelvic area.

Osteopathy can influence the menstrual cycle and help relieve PMS, as well as other menstrual problems including:

• Irregular periods
• Painful periods
• Infertility
• The pain of endometriosis
• Painful intercourse

We treat many women during their pregnancy to help relieve morning sickness and lower back and pelvic pain, and to assist in the postural changes that occur during the varying stages of pregnancy.

We use very gentle procedures in varying positions to ensure comfort and support to the pregnant patient during osteopathic treatment.

We also encourage assessment and treatment of both mother and baby after birth as in many cases, the birth process may affect both mother and baby’s pelvic alignment, and the cranial alignment of the infant.

Cranial misalignment in the infant can cause reflux, crying, irritability, colic and restlessness.

Paediatric Osteopathy applies the principles of Osteopathy to the assessment and treatment of newborns, infants and children. It is a very gentle approach and can help with:

• Apathetic and hyperactive babies
• Asthma and hay fever
• Colic and other digestive problems
• Common paediatric skin conditions such as eczema
• Crying and irritability that are often associated with sleep disturbances
• Dental conditions – in association with dentists for corrections and to complement other forms of dental treatment
• Developmental delay
• Feeding difficulties
• Glue ear (otitis media), grommets
• Headaches, migraine
• Hyperactivity (ADD/ADHD)
• Juvenile arthritis
• Juvenile scoliosis
• Learning difficulties
• Misshapen heads from birth trauma
• Posture assessment and correction
• Premenstrual tension in teenage girls
• Reflux and vomiting
• Sinusitis
• Squint (strabismus)
• TMJ pain and malocclusion – facial pain, jaw pain and clicking
• Tonsillitis

Founded in 1874 by American surgeon and physician Dr. Andrew Taylor Still (1828-1917)

Osteopathy was originally developed as a Complimentary Therapy by a doctor, for doctors. It involves hands on methods to help the body heal disease. Most people today see Osteopathy merely as the manipulation of bones. We use gentle approaches and medically based history taking to form a realistic assessment of the patients current condition.