Qualita

When to consult an osteopath for chest pain

Cristina Pensato, D.O. — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 02:45:49 +0000

As an osteopath, I have encountered many patients who present themselves in my office with a non-pathological chest pain. They describe a pain under their sternum, an oppressing chest feeling, a tightness in their thorax, a feeling of restricted breathing when inhaling deeply, a discomfort that sometimes pulls in the upper back. On some occasions, the patients describe a feeling of anxiety in addition to their pain.
These patients usually have taken a wise and cautious approach to treating their pain. They have consulted a doctor either in the emergency room or they consulted their family physician. They have undergone all appropriate diagnostic testing and their results reveal no abnormalities. At this point they are discharged and since major medical conditions have been ruled out, their pain may be of muscle, joint or ligament origin.
Clinically, these patients respond very well to osteopathic treatments. The osteopath will alleviate the tensions in the muscles of the chest. They will ensure proper joint mechanics of the sternum, ribs and vertebrae of the upper back, as well as any structure that may be infringing on their proper movement. They will normalize the ligaments and linings of the chest. Finally, they will review physiological and proper breathing patterns with the patients.

From personal experience, these patients respond very well to such an approach and their symptoms typically resolve. However, if anyone experiences any of the signs or symptoms listed below they should call 911, not an osteopath:

- - Squeezing chest pain
  - Problems breathing
  - Abdominal or back pain (more common in women)
  - Cold, sweaty skin
  - Skin that is bluish or paler than normal
  - Nausea and vomiting
  - Denial
  - Jaw pain

Note: Not everyone experiences chest pain during a heart attack.

During a heart attack, many women, elderly people, and people with diabetes tend to experience “soft signs”, including:

- Mild, unfocused chest discomfort that:
  – Comes and goes
  – Doesn’t feel like pain
  – Starts mild and gets continually stronger
  – Gets better with rest
  – Gets worse with activity
- Tiredness
- Gastric discomfort
- Flu-like symptoms

Note: Men may have these signs as well.
Taken from the Canadian Red-Cross website.

Once that all appropriate medical testing has determined that your pain is not of a pathological origin, then, and only then, you may want to consider calling an osteopath.

Reference:

http://www.redcross.ca

Why take a Newborn to an Osteopath?

Christine Dierick, D.O. — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 11:15:46 +0000

Baby has finally arrived! The relief knowing that your baby is healthy as well as all the congratulatory comments from those around you may not be enough to keep you from wondering whether the birth had any negative effects on your baby’s body. There is a solution—a preventive consultation with an osteopath.

Why consult an osteopath?

Babies can experience a variety of medical problems as early on as their birth. These problems can be caused by a long and difficult delivery but pregnancy can also be a source of discomfort for the child, as surprising as that may seem. An uncomfortable position in the mother’s pelvis, a narrow growing space and a breech presentation can all cause the baby pain from strong pressure points.

Parents cannot see everything. Our bodies compensate and adopt poor postures in order to mask dysfunction. Based on a precise and in-depth observation, an osteopath can detect minor problems and foresee what may worsen or become chronic over time. For that reason, osteopaths welcome all newborns for a preventive visit.

What is involved?

An osteopath begins by asking questions about the baby’s health and behaviour, the pregnancy and the delivery. Subsequent observation can then reveal key information.

Osteopathic techniques on babies are very gentle, painless and do not involve any constraints on the body. They may not be visibly apparent. A very light pressure from the fingers is applied to unblock tensions. Free from their small aches and pains, babies can develop normally and thrive.

When should you consult an osteopath?

Osteopathy is often recommended following a difficult birth (forceps, vacuum extraction, breech presentation) or if the baby has digestive problems or a stiff neck. However, an osteopath can intervene at any time, such as during the baby’s first days, in order to perform a preventive consultation.

Osteopathy and Chronic Low Back Pain

Martina Hühner, D.O. — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 17:19:20 +0000

Between 2005 and 2007, Hühner/Mignault carried out a study on chronic low back pain.

During the study, the researchers wanted to highlight the impact of problems in other areas of the body on the lower back. For example, could foot, skull or vertebral blockages have an effect on the intensity of chronic low back pain?

Their intention was therefore to verify any influence from the spinal column, the skull or the lower limbs on the intensity of low back pain and on low back mobility.
To carry out their clinical study, they selected 54 subjects who were divided into three groups of 18 people. Two groups received four osteopathic treatments—spinal and skull treatments (craniosacral system) or treatments involving the lower limbs. The third group received four complete back massages.
Hühner/Mignault assessed the intensity of the low back pain, the mobility of the lumbar vertebrae and the participants’ functional level using the McGill-Melzack Pain Questionnaire, a validated questionnaire (the Dallas Pain Questionnaire or DPQ) and osteopathic tests for vertebral mobility. The assessments were performed before and after the series of four treatments and again one month after the treatments ended.

After analyzing the results, the researchers noted that the two groups that received osteopathic treatments reported significantly decreased pain intensity over time, which was not the case for the group that received massages. They were therefore able to state that decreased mobility in areas of the body that are separated from the lower back can influence chronic low back pain.

Osteopathy, an Option for Recurrent Ear Infections in Babies

Christine Dierick, D.O. — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 21:13:16 +0000

Children are susceptible to ear infections

According to the College of Family Physicians of Canada, more than 75% of children will have at least one ear infection before the age of three, and close to half will have at least three.

Middle ear infections are painful and often cause fever and a sore throat. They are caused either by a virus (25%) or a bacteria that affects the throat, the nose or the ears. Ear infections generally occur when the Eustachian tube is blocked. The blockage traps secretions in the middle ear, making it vulnerable to infection. It also increases the pressure behind the eardrum and causes pain.

Young children are more susceptible to developing ear infections because their Eustachian tube is more horizontal than in adults and as a result, secretions cannot flow as easily. They are also exposed to respiratory infections, which can lead to ear infections. Finally, the bones of the skull may have been pulled or blocked due to forceps or vacuum extraction during delivery, hindering drainage of the ORL areas.

When an ear infection occurs, it is important to consult a physician. Given that most ear infections heal on their own, antibiotics are not prescribed systematically. When the symptoms are not serious, waiting a few days is generally recommended before prescribing antibiotics to children over two years old.

The role of the osteopath

Osteopaths cannot cure ear infections. However, they can promote and accelerate the healing process and break the vicious cycle of recurrent ear infections. To do so, they intervene with regard to mucus drainage and blood and lymph exchange by releasing the bones at the base of the skull and the temporal bones, when necessary, and relaxing tensions that restrict the upper opening of the rib cage.

Given the malleability of an infant’s bones, osteopaths can reduce the pressure on the auditory canal. For older children who are susceptible to ear infections, osteopaths can release the bones of the skull and the back of the throat.

Osteopathy and a Dancer’s Posture

Louise-Andrée Pelletier, D.O. — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 17:04:47 +0000

The Importance of posture for a dancer

It is critical for dancers to have an adequate posture. When they do not, increased effort is required by the adjacent muscles and soft tissue and a series of compensations occur. As a result, the dancer’s movements are more difficult to execute, performance is affected and injuries are more likely to occur.

Osteopathic study

A study conducted in 2011 focused on the effect of osteopathic treatments on the posture of contemporary dancers. The study was carried out in collaboration with contemporary dance school LADMMI. In total, 34 students participated in the study. They were randomly divided into two groups and only the participants in one of the groups received osteopathic treatments. All of the participants had their posture assessed twice using the BioPrint posture software program. The posture-related information produced by the software program was used to compare any change in posture among the participants in both groups.

The posture-related data was analyzed and interpreted and the results showed a significant improvement in the alignment of certain body segments viewed from the frontal plane, including shoulders, pelvis, knees and feet, among only those participants who received osteopathic treatments. It was also observed that the posture of 33.33% of the participants who did not receive osteopathic treatments worsened significantly compared with 0% of the participants who received osteopathic treatments.

These results suggest that osteopathic treatments stabilized posture and/or slowed down any deterioration. Given the effect of osteopathic treatment on posture, an osteopath can contribute to preventing a dancer’s injuries and improving his or her overall balance.

Consulting an osteopath for pain during sex

Joan Poirier, D.O. — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 04:01:30 +0000

In our daily practice, we provide osteopathic care to women while they are pregnant as well as after delivery. During the post-partum phase, some women experience pain during sex for several months or even years. The pain can be due to a difficult vaginal birth, a lack of scar flexibility following a laceration of the perineum or an episiotomy as well as the hypersensitivity of those scars. A lack of mobility of the uterus and the neighbouring structures can also contribute to the symptoms. For example, pain can be experienced following a C-section due to a lack of flexibility in abdominal and uterine scarring.

Some women are embarrassed to talk about their pain. They may think that it is normal following delivery and that the pain will disappear over time. As a result, they engage in sexual relations much less frequently and at times avoid intercourse.

By carrying out a detailed evaluation of the structures involved and by providing specific osteopathic treatment, an osteopath can significantly alleviate this problem, which affects the quality of life of these women as well as their relationships.

Tendinitis of the Knee (Pes Anserinus Tendinitis)

Jeannine van Vliet, D.O. — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 21:38:38 +0000

The pes anserine (inner hamstrings) is made up of three muscles: the semitendinosus, the gracilis and the sartorius. Beginning in the pelvis, they all insert on the inner and upper region of the tibia (shinbone) and their primary role is to stabilize the knee. They are not particularly powerful muscles and therefore do not tend to initiate movement. Instead, their role is to ensure optimal alignment of the different bones that make up the knee (femur, tibia and patella or kneecap) in relation to the foot and the pelvis. They enable more powerful muscles, primarily the quadriceps, to play their key role.

Tendinitis

Tendinitis is common among runners who place considerable strain on their bodies, for instance in activities such as hill running. The knee is placed in a difficult position on hills, particularly on descents: the muscles contract sharply to keep the knee from giving way.

Osteopathic treatment

As for any tendinitis, it is important to identify and remove the cause:

Review the individual’s training regimen and verify his/her shoes
Consider muscle insertions: look at the pelvis (and any other tension above the knee)
Verify muscular flexibility: hamstrings (semitendinosus), adductors (gracilis)
Normalize any potential injuries involving the sliding and/or rotation of the tibia with regard to the femur
Verify the presence of any tension below the knee, e.g. a pronated foot that can create excessive tension on the inner side of the knee

Multiple Sclerosis: Osteopathy can decrease Fatigue

Anna Bozzini, D.O. — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 21:17:00 +0000

Fatigue is the most common symptom among people with multiple sclerosis (MS), affecting between 50% and 90% of MS patients (Colosimo et al., 1995, Krupp, 2004, Fisk et al., 1994). It is the most debilitating symptom of MS (Kos et al., 2008) and continues to be the primary cause of withdrawal from active life (Kalb 2004). Some 55% of patients consider fatigue to be one of the three most significant symptoms of their illness (Fisk et al., 1994). In 48% of cases, fatigue can intensify other symptoms (Freal et al., 1984). In some cases, fatigue can exist before the appearance of the clinical neurological signs of the illness (Fisk et al., 1994).

Some research (Toth, 2007, Vardy, 1994, Yates et al., 2002) has shown the potential positive effect of osteopathy on the symptoms associated with MS and on the improvement of certain parameters of functional mobility. A clinical trial led by Bozzini in 2010 was designed to assess the effect of comprehensive osteopathic treatment on the level of fatigue experienced by people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. In a chronological experiment carried out over 10 weeks, 17 people with relapsing-remitting MS received three osteopathic treatments. Fatigue was measured using the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS). The results indicated that comprehensive osteopathic treatment could help decrease the level of fatigue experienced by people with relapsing-remitting MS.

Despite the extensive research available, the physiopathological mechanisms underlying the fatigue associated with MS are still poorly understood. With regard to therapeutic strategies, current research shows the importance of matching non-pharmacological approaches with traditional pharmacological treatments. Osteopathic treatment could therefore be beneficial for enhancing certain parameters of functional mobility (Yates et al., 2002, Toth, 2007) and decreasing the level of fatigue experienced by people with MS (Bozzini, 2010).

Osteopathy and Uterine Fibroids

Nathalie Camirand, D.O. — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 19:21:41 +0000

Uterine fibroids or leiomyomas are among the most common benign tumours found in females. As many as 40 to 75% of women, in particular if they are over 30, have uterine fibroids, including asymptomatic patients.

Traditional medicine, aside from surgery, has little to offer women with these gynecological issues and the methods used are often associated with extensive side effects.

A study in Germany has shown scientifically and in a statistically significant manner that comprehensive osteopathic treatment, including normalization of the uterus, influences fibroids and their symptoms. The study in fact confirmed, via an ultrasound examination, that following the osteopathic treatments, the fibroids grew at a slower rate or even decreased in size and that the patients’ symptoms improved.

We have found that the sooner these patients are treated by an osteopath, the better the results. Often, the patients complain of musculoskeletal discomfort, such as lower back pain and sciatica. These symptoms are quickly relieved by the osteopathic treatment of the fibroid.

The possibility of treating fibroids with osteopathy should not be underestimated. Fibroids often play an important role in pathological chains and this link generally responds well to osteopathic treatment. In our practice, we need to learn to give fibroids the same importance that they occupy in the health of the women who turn to us for assistance.

Chronic Prostatitis and Osteopathy

Nathalie Camirand, D.O. — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 16:00:06 +0000

Prostatitis refers to the inflammation of the prostate gland and can be divided into three categories: acute, chronic bacterial and chronic nonbacterial.

Chronic nonbacterial prostatitis is the most common type among middle-aged and older men.

Clinically, the patient may present with pain in the perineum and occasionally the groin, post-ejaculatory pain, loss of libido, or an incomplete erection (due to irritation of the posterior aspect of the urethra). These symptoms can last from a few hours to a few days, or even several weeks.

All types of prostatitis, if left untreated, can lead to debilitating pain, sexual impotence and difficulty urinating. Unfortunately, from a medical point of view, these patients are offered only prolonged antibiotic therapy despite the fact that their bacterial culture is negative. In our osteopathic practice, we have obtained remarkable results for this type of pathology by correcting dysfunctions in the pelvis and spinal column, increasing the flexibility and mobility of the prostate, hips and perineum and recommending certain types of food.

Prostate inflammation can occur progressively following a physical trauma to the pelvis or the lower back, or can be due to intestinal inflammation, intense stress or poor health practices. It can also result from prolonged pressure on the perineum, such as that experienced by cyclists. Consult your osteopath for more information.