Meet The Alpine Osteopath
The Alpine Osteopath is an osteopathic practice that focuses on treating a range of disorders by addressing the whole body, including soft tissues, the spine, and the nervous system.
Osteopathy, also known as osteopathic medicine, was founded by Dr Andrew Taylor Still, an American physician in the 19th century. Osteopathic philosophy gives a holistic approach to health and stresses the importance of the musculoskeletal system in a person’s health and well-being. The aim of treatment is to support the body’s self-healing capacity.
Our Specialisations
Osteopathy can treat a range of disorders and manage a range of conditions.
Osteopaths believe that there may be a musculoskeletal link in many conditions, and so osteopathy may also help with a wider range of disorders.
"Empowering individuals to take an active role in their health, promoting long-term wellness and vitality."
Our Philosophy
Biomechanics and Osteopathy
The study of ‘biomechanics’ – how each part of the musculoskeletal system interacts with and influences every other part – is central to osteopathy.
Any joint or muscle injury must be treated as part of the whole body, since other parts of the musculoskeletal system will also be affected. For example, an ankle injury may mean that the patient limps and favours the other foot. Over time, this imbalance can lead to other injuries, such as soreness in the other ankle, knee or hip, or perhaps back pain. Tensegrity and mechanical chain reactions.
Your osteopath can devise a strategy of treatment that takes your whole musculoskeletal system into account. Attention is also given to other systems of the body – such as the circulatory, nervous and lymphatic systems – since these all play significant roles in the healing process.
Hands-on osteopathic treatment
An osteopath focuses on your whole body, including the soft tissues (such as muscles, ligaments and tendons), the spine and nervous system, and may use a variety of different hands-on methods, including:
Spinal manipulation and adjustments
Articulation – gentle rhythmic joint movements
Stretching muscles and joint capsules
Cranial techniques, suitable for newborn and children
Visceral manipulation – gentle movement of the abdominal and pelvic areas.
Soft tissue massage techniques
Lifestyle and environmental factors
Although osteopathy is best known as a form of hands-on medicine, osteopaths may also refer you on to other healthcare providers, and are able to offer advice on injury prevention, pain management and rehabilitation programs.
Your osteopath will ask you about your medical history so they can treat you in the context of your overall health.
Osteopathy encourages you to take responsibility for your own long-term health and wellbeing, and can help you find out which lifestyle and environmental factors may be contributing to your condition.
These may include correction of poor posture, stress management or the need for ergonomic furniture and breathing/exercise prescription.
An osteopath may work out a range of treatments, including individual exercise routines, relaxation techniques or body awareness sessions, which show you how to move your body in gentler and more efficient ways.
In some disorders – such as prolapsed discs, joint infections or bone disease – manipulation may not be appropriate.
