OSTEOPATHIE 

What is osteopathy?

140 years ago, the American physician Dr. Andrew Taylor Still recognized and named the principles of osteopathy. Since then, osteopathy has continued to develop, both in the United States and in Europe and other parts of the world.

Osteopathy is a distinct form of medicine that serves to identify and treat functional disorders. Osteopathic treatment is performed exclusively with the hands. The patient is viewed as a whole—on the one hand, as the unity of body, mind, and spirit, and on the other hand, as the physical unity on all levels. The division into the three pillars (parietal, craniosacral, and visceral osteopathy) is now considered outdated, as it does not adequately reflect the holistic concept.

The approach of osteopathy

The principle of osteopathy relates, on the one hand, to the mobility of the body as a whole, and, on the other, to the intrinsic movements of the tissues, individual body parts, and organ systems, as well as their interaction. Every body part and every organ requires freedom of movement to function optimally.

If mobility is restricted, from an osteopathic perspective, tissue tension and subsequent dysfunctions initially develop. From an osteopathic perspective, the body can no longer compensate for the combined effects of these dysfunctions, resulting in discomfort.

When researching the causes of ailments in the human body, the focus is on structural disorders and the resulting dysfunction. This so-called somatic dysfunction must be identified and corrected. Osteopathy therefore does not treat diseases in the true sense, but rather movement disorders in the broadest sense.

Our body consists of countless structures, all of which are directly or indirectly interconnected. This connection is provided by the fascia, thin connective tissue sheaths that surround each structure and collectively form a large body fascia. From an osteopathic perspective, movement restrictions and dysfunctions can spread through the fascia and manifest as symptoms elsewhere in the body.

How does osteopathic treatment work?

Diagnosing a dysfunction requires long and intensive training of the sense of touch. Osteopathic treatment is carried out using specially developed osteopathic techniques. The goal is to enable the patient to naturally restore balance by improving the mobility of the affected structure.

Osteopathy is not limited to the treatment of individual symptoms, but always considers the person as a whole. Therefore, it is not diseases that are treated, but people. Therefore, it is not meaningful to specify indications for osteopathy. The elimination of symptoms is not fundamentally the goal of treatment, but merely a result of resolving limitations caused by osteopathic dysfunctions of any kind.

Before beginning osteopathic treatment, it is sometimes advisable to conduct a conventional medical diagnosis. Findings from previous medical examinations are also helpful. In many cases, osteopathy complements conventional medicine, but it does not replace it.

An osteopathic treatment at Martina Frank's Osteopathic Practice lasts 50 minutes. Each new therapy session is individually tailored to the patient's specific circumstances. The exact course of treatment depends on the individual case.

Will my health insurance cover the costs of osteopathic treatment?

Private health insurance companies and supplementary insurance providers recognize osteopathy based on the fee schedule for alternative practitioners (GebüH). The amount of reimbursement depends on your insurance contract.

Many statutory health insurance companies reimburse a subsidy for osteopathic treatment. Please see the following link: https://www.osteopathie.de/service-krankenkassenliste