OSTEOPATHY

Osteopathy is a form of drug-free non-invasive manual medicine that focuses on total body health. Through a holistic approach, it treats and strengthens the musculoskeletal framework, which includes joints, muscles and spine.

Dr. Tarek Touma, Diploma in Osteopathy, International Academy of Osteopathy, Brussels. Belgium and Master in Physical Therapy as well as Master in Locomotion Sciences, Free University of Brussels, Belgium, believes that osteopaths treatments allow the body to heal itself. They use a range of techniques but do not use drugs or surgery. They do not simply concentrate on treating the problem area, but use manual techniques to balance all the systems of the body. They mostly do painless manipulation by inducing softness in the deep tissues; thus mobility is gained back without moving any single joint.

Which areas does it treat?
Neck Pain
Low back pain
Ankle injuries
Tennis elbow
Lumbago
Shoulder pain
Sport injuries
Jaws tension

Which areas it should’nt treat?
Broken bone
Dislocation
Bone cancer
Damaged ligaments
Osteoporosis
Joint infection
Knee operations

VISCERAL OSTEOPATHY
According to Dr. Tarek Touma, there are many cases that could be successfully healed by treating the mechanical side of it as for instance menstrual pain (provoked sometimes by neck tension).
Headache (if provoked by neck or jaws problems)
Constipation
Depression

ORTHOPEDIST'S OPINION
According to Dr. Said Saghieh, AUB-MC Associate Professor of Orthopedic Surgery M.D.Osteopathy can be used to treat a wide array of conditions. It has been scientifically proven to relieve pain associated with neck and back problems.
Ostheopathy can complete conventional medicine and relieve most of the neck and back pain attributed to facet joints or to muscle spasm. On the other hand, patients with herniated disc or spinal stenosis don’t benefit a lot from osteopathy.

OSTEOPATHY VS PHYSIOTHERAPY
Patients who need rehab, just had a hip reconstitution, torn muscles, recently underwent joint surgery or having orthopedic issues that need medicines prescriptions or casts should better refer to their orthopedist and on a later stage their physiotherapist. Physiotherapy and osteopathy complement each other.

DIFFERENCES IN OSTEOPATHY ACROSS COUNTRIES
Both American and European osteopathic physicians call themselves DOs. American practitioners are Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine. They undertake 7 years of general medicine and are entitled to give medicine.
European practitioners have a Diploma of Osteopathy. During their 6 years of study they test the mobility of every joint and go through at least 60 hours of anatomy dissection and 60 hrs of pharmacy.