If you are experiencing pain in your joints, ligaments, and muscles, your doctor may recommend various types of natural therapies rather than addictive pain killers or surgery. One of the recommendations may be that you visit an osteopath. This is a person who specializes in treating problems with muscles, joints, and ligaments using certain movements designed to treat the tissues and relieve pain.

There are many conditions that are treated by osteopaths, including back, shoulder, and knee pain, as well as headaches, digestive problems, and even sinusitis. If you have had certain injuries, such as a sprain or a torn muscle or ligament, an osteopath can help you heal:

Do You Need a Doctor's Referral?

While your doctor may recommend that you visit an osteopath to treat pain, you do not need an actual referral, even if you are using your medical insurance to pay for the appointments. But, you may want to ask your doctor if there is any specific osteopath that they recommend. Once you have chosen an osteopath, they will need to have your medical history, and your doctor should be more than willing to provide them with this information if asked.

Your First Appointment

Before the osteopath starts doing any type of therapy with you, they are going to need to learn your full medical history, and do their own examination of the area that you need therapy on. There will be a standing examination that is done while you are standing, to examine your posture, hips, legs, etc. Then, there will be a spinal exam, as well as an examination of your arms and legs in various positions while laying down and standing. Once the examination is complete, the treatment can begin.

What is the Treatment, and does it Hurt?

Osteopathy is very similar to chiropractic medicine, because it involves manipulating the joints. But, the difference is, even if you have back pain, it is the arms and legs that are going to be manipulated. This manipulation is done with one hand, with a fulcrum hand being used in the spot where the pain originates, such as the lower back. There is not usually any pain involved with osteopathy, because it is a very gentle type of manipulation treatment.

While it can initially make pain a bit worse because it hurts to move the joints, it will help to ease the pain. You may hear a cracking sound, and think that this is your bones or joints. Don't worry about this sound. This does sometimes happen during adjustments, but as painful as it sounds, it will actually help to relieve your pain.

To learn more, contact a company like Keilor Health Centre with any questions you have.