Why Osteopathic Therapy Could Be The Best Way For You To Manage Your Arthritis

Arthritis is a common condition that affects many Australians, especially those on the older side of the spectrum of age. As such, many treatment options are available for arthritis, and all have their pros and cons. Osteopathic therapy is a great way to treat arthritis because it focuses on the whole body, not just one section. As your arthritis probably impacts the way you live your life on a day-to-day basis, this can be vitally important to manage it while still living an active life. But what is osteopathic therapy exactly, and how does it differ from physio or chiropractic therapy? Here is a quick examination of what an osteopath is and how they can help. 

Osteopathic Therapy Vs Alternatives

Osteopathic therapy aims at treating your issue, whether it be arthritis or anything else, by addressing it all over the body, not in just the most visible place. The theory goes that one problematic area will cause reverberating issues all over the body, whether directly or tangentially. To treat it, they use a range of muscle manipulation, lifestyle advice and massage. In that sense, they may sound like a physiotherapist or chiropractor, but there are obvious differences. Both physiotherapists and chiropractors generally only treat the problem area, not the whole patient. Chiropractors are also a lot more sudden and violent with their treatment, adjusting the musculoskeletal system abruptly. Osteopathic therapy is much more relaxed and carries on for much longer.

How Can Osteopathic Therapy Help Arthritis?

Arthritis commonly occurs in the joints, such as elbows, fingers, knees and wrists, and these areas of your body are vital for living a relatively regular life. Osteopathic therapy aims to manage the problem area through whatever means necessary (whether that be massage, exercise, diet, etc.) but also to ensure that the rest of your body is not being neglected. This is crucial when it comes to arthritis care because arthritis often does impact the way your muscles behave in other areas of your body, whether you know it or not.

What Happens When You Go To An Osteopath?

The first thing that happens at an osteopathic therapy clinic will be your examination. This often takes close to an hour, if not longer, and it will probably be the only thing that happens in your first session. Since your osteopath wants to treat your whole body, not just the troubled area, they will talk to you about your lifestyle and habits, how arthritis affects it, get you to move and walk around a little bit to see it in action and so on. They will also get you to try out a few simple stretches and see how you respond to them so that they can base their future plans around your unique needs. After that, every session will be more based around targeted treatment to aid in relief all over your body. 

To learn more, contact a clinic that offers osteopathic therapy.