Osteopathy can be used to treat a wide range of conditions. Osteopathic doctors treat many different injuries, illnesses, and diseases and can prescribe prescription drugs and perform surgery. As such, a person may go to this type of doctor for treatment for conditions that involve his musculoskeletal system, such as lower-back injuries; whiplash; muscle spasms; digestive disorders; and sinus issues. Osteopathy may also be used to treat pain, such as in those who suffer from migraine headaches and pain that is related to a menstrual period. This field of medicine is also helpful for treating infections, asthma, stress, depression, and health problems that affect children.
The idea with osteopathy is that the alignment of the patient’s muscles, bones, and joints affects the health of the rest of the patient’s body. Doctors who practice this type of medicine try to determine where there are problems in a person’s body, and by treating them, solve medical issues that may affect other parts of the body in surprising ways. For example, this type of doctor may determine that a person’s poor posture may be contributing to his asthma symptoms. Likewise, he may find that inflamed joints are having a negative affect on a person’s nervous system.
Since osteopathy involves keeping a person’s frame aligned to maintain his overall health, there are numerous types of conditions it may treat. For example, it may be used to treat issues that involve a person’s musculoskeletal system. If an individual suffers from lower-back pain, for example, osteopathy can be used to treat the problem. It may also be used to treat muscle spasms and help an individual heal after he has suffered a sprain or a fracture. Osteopathy may also prove effective in the treatment of whiplash.
Osteopathy may prove helpful for treating conditions that affect the respiratory system as well. For example, an osteopathic doctor may help treat a patient who has asthma or chronic bronchitis. He may also treat people who suffer from allergies that cause respiratory symptoms. An osteopathic doctor may even work to treat patients who have acute infections that affect the respiratory system.
In many cases, osteopathy is also used to treat disorders and conditions that affect the digestive system. For example, a doctor who practices this type of medicine may work to provide symptom relief for patients who suffer from heartburn or constipation. He may also treat patients who have chronic conditions that affect the digestive system, such as irritable bowel syndrome or colitis.
An osteopathic doctor may also treat patients who struggle with recurrent pain. This type of doctor may treat people who have migraines, for example. He may even treat women who have monthly pain that is related to menstruation.
