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How Osteopaths Treat Neck Pain

By: Andrew Mitchell Osteopathic medicine is a kind of medicinal practice in which the entire body is taken into consideration instead of looking at symptoms separately. This type of medicine is very "in" right now, especially for those who suffer from pain in their muscles and joints. A lot of people believe that an osteopath is your best option when you suffer from neck pain. Obviously, if this is your first visit to an osteopath, you are probably nervous, but you can relax. Here is what you can expect to experience when you treat neck pain with an osteopath:
At first, you'll probably feel like you are visiting a "regular" doctor. You'll be given a physical and asked for your complete medical history. After that, your osteopath will perform a few additional tests to help determine the exact cause of your neck pain. He or she might take an X-Ray to find out if you have damaged any of your vertebrae. Don't be surprised if your osteopath then gives the rest of your body a complete examination as well!
It is important to know that your appointment will involve a lot of physical contact between you and your osteopath. Osteopathic treatment is very "hands on."
You can expect to be treated in any of the following ways when you ask an osteopath to treat neck pain:
Counterstrain technique: this is where you are moved into a position that helps to restore the motion to any muscles that might have been restrained/strained.
Muscle Energy technique: In this technique, your osteopath will prescribe specific exercises. These exercises will start you in specific poses and move your muscles in specific ways.
Soft Tissue technique: this is where your osteopath will apply pressure to the muscle areas around the spine. It can also involve deep pressure, rhythmic stretching and, in some cases, traction.
Thrust technique: In the thrust technique your osteopath will reintroduce movement to your joints with high velocity force. This should help rid you of any asymmetry in your muscles, any movement that has been restricted and any tissue changes or muscle tenderness.
In some cases, osteopaths will also use low level lasers or acupuncture to treat their patients.
This might sound very scary but don't worry-most people don't experience any pain when they visit their osteopath for neck pain treatment. In fact, most people who visit osteopaths find their treatments to be relaxing and pleasant!
There are some people who might confuse osteopathic medicine with chiropractic medicine. The two night sound alike, but they are actually very different. Chiropractic medicine focuses on your spine and joints. Osteopathic medicine focus on your whole body!

Article Source: http://www.lifeweightloss.com

Andrew Mitchell, co-ordinator of Osteopath Network, writes articles about osteopaths, back pain, neck pain and soft tissue injuries. If you are looking for a Cambridge osteopath please visit his website.

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