Osteopathy for Children

Osteopathy is a branch of non-drug clinical medicine that involves helping patients with a variety of somatic dysfunctions. Osteopathy is based on the idea of the body's ability to heal itself by restoring its original anatomical structure. The specialist influences the affected tissues through the skin. An osteopath does not work with individual symptoms but with the patient at all levels: bone, muscle, fluid and psychological. The treatment is done by hand only, may vary in intensity, and is always aimed at the underlying cause of the condition.

It is important to understand how kinesiology differs from osteopathy. Kinesiologists identify the cause of a condition and can give treatment recommendations, while osteopaths use gentle manual techniques to address the problem rather than only record its cause. The difference between manual therapy and osteopathy lies in the methods of working with problem areas. A manual therapist works on a joint until it "clicks," whereas an osteopath acts gently, very selectively and in a limited way.

Depending on the direction of the treatment, several types of osteopathy are distinguished:

• Structural.
  Aimed at problems of the musculoskeletal system; in children it is intended to support learning and to ease excessive fatigue and susceptibility to stress.
• Visceral.
  Works with the internal organs, including the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory organs and genitourinary system.
• Craniosacral.
  Works with the structures of the brain; it is intended to relieve tension and headaches and the consequences of head injuries.

Osteopathy in Pediatrics

Pregnancy and childbirth are physiological processes, but delivery involves pressure on the infant even in a normal birth. Factors such as cesarean section, very fast or prolonged labor, and the position of the baby in the womb can have negative effects and may lead to injuries in newborns that are not visible to the naked eye. Osteopathy for infants is used for problems such as:

• restlessness, frequent crying, poor sleep;
• gastrointestinal problems (spitting up, colic, bloating);
• prolonged jaundice of the newborn;
• muscle tone disorders;
• apnea of the newborn;
• muscular torticollis;
• strabismus;
• abnormal orientation of the limbs;
• asymmetric posture;
• hip dysplasia;
• suspected cerebral palsy in a child in the first year of life.

The first visit to a pediatric osteopath can take place in the first weeks of life. Osteopathy for young children is considered a gentle and painless method. If a problem is found in a child and treatment is recommended, it should be started as early as possible. Newborns and children up to 8 years old are reported to respond well. Health can also be corrected at a later age, especially if there are traumatic or chronic problems.

A pediatric osteopath can help with problems such as:

• scoliosis;
• valgus and varus deformity of the legs, orthopedic abnormalities;
• back or abdominal pain;
• sleep disorders;
• headaches.

How does an osteopath treat? The specialist aims to bring the bones of the skull into biomechanical balance, balance the nervous system and help eliminate other dysfunctions. In pediatrics, very soft and gentle methods that are safe for the child are used. It is important to prepare for the specialist's appointment so that the child does not cry or resist:

• bring an interesting book or a favorite toy;
• show confidence and respect for the specialist in your whole manner;
• do not rush to undress the child; let the child get used to the office;
• if the child has a high temperature or a viral infection, it is better to postpone the visit.

Treatment by an osteopath should be comfortable and not frightening for the child.

Osteopathy for Developmental Delay and Other Conditions

Speech delay, developmental delay and other disorders are found in children more and more often. How an osteopath may help in such a situation:

• look for the cause of the speech development disorder;
• perform manipulations aimed at restoring blood supply to the brain;
• work on the cervical spine and aim to restore normal function of the cranial nerves and the nervous system.

Indications for Osteopathy in Schoolchildren

If a child has difficulties in learning or adapting to a group and cannot cope with the program of school or preschool, this should be a warning sign for parents. Further prospects for development, academic performance and social adaptation depend on early detection of developmental problems. And almost always the roots of the problem go back to childhood and to the prenatal period in the womb.

The first signal that a specialist visit is needed is insufficient academic performance; or the child studies well, but growing demands and workloads may create preconditions for disorders in the body. For example, the child has become nervous or anxious, has insomnia, or has reduced concentration. There are complaints of periodic headaches and unpleasant sensations in the back and abdomen. You have noticed that the child has begun to slouch, or sees or hears worse.

All these factors may indicate difficulty in the body's adaptation to workloads, which can lead to illness. An experienced osteopath identifies the main causes of the negative condition of a school-age child and selects a list of procedures to help the child's body recover and prepare to cope with increased physical and emotional loads.

The main methods of influence and features of the procedure:

• osteopathy;
• orthobionomy;
• neurolymphatic reflex therapy;
• MFR (myofascial release);
• Sequential Energy System Tuning, a treatment and diagnostic method aimed at identifying and sequentially restoring psychophysical disorders in the body.

For restorative purposes, the doctor uses a number of osteopathic techniques:

• Structural techniques.
  Biomechanical impairments are identified and addressed: work on the spine, muscles, ligaments and joints.
• Visceral techniques.
  Correction of disorders of the internal organs (restoring the organs' free mobility, relieving their tension, supporting metabolic processes in the tissues).
• Craniosacral action.
  Regulation of the skull-spine-sacrum balance and influence on cerebrospinal fluid dynamics.
• Reflex techniques.
  Building up the body's self-regulation capacity.

The Effect of Osteopathy Sessions

A child's body has a very high capacity for self-recovery, so timely help from a specialist is important. Osteopathy for children with autism is used as a supportive approach in conditions associated with CNS damage and brain hypoxia. This factor influences the development of speech skills and the formation of attention. The goals of osteopathy in autism and developmental delay:

• improve the blood supply of the brain and spinal cord;
• achieve an optimal relationship between the cervical vertebrae and the bones of the skull base;
• reduce tissue tension;
• improve venous outflow from the cranial cavity;
• restore cerebrospinal fluid dynamics.

As a result of osteopathic treatment, in nonverbal children and patients with ASD it is intended to support:

• a reduction in anxiety, aggression and excess excitability;
• better memory;
• better learning;
• interest in the surroundings and imitation;
• the development of communication skills.

Another positive effect of osteopathy is the building of a trusting relationship between the doctor and a child with ASD, which can have a positive effect on the child's development.

In cerebral palsy osteopathy aims to:

• restore blood circulation;
• improve the condition of the meninges;
• relieve muscle tension;
• improve the nourishment of the brain.

Through careful influence, an osteopath may improve a child's condition. Osteopathic methods are used as supportive treatment for conditions in children and adults such as:

• frequent colds, sore throats and rhinitis;
• gastrointestinal problems, constipation, dysbiosis;
• allergic manifestations.

Treatment

At our clinic in Kyiv, a pediatric osteopath, Oleksandr Viktorovych Zhuk, sees patients. The specifics of treatment are determined individually in each case. Usually 3 to 8 procedures are needed, carried out at intervals of 10-14 days. Book an appointment to discuss costs of osteopathic treatment at CSM Clinic.