Osteopathy
What is osteopathy?
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140 years ago, the American physician Dr. Andrew Taylor Still recognized and named the principles of osteopathy. Since then, osteopathy has continuously developed, in the USA, as well as in Europe and other parts of the world.
Osteopathy is an independent form of medicine that focuses on identifying and treating functional disorders. Osteopathic treatment is performed exclusively with the hands. The patient is considered holistically – as a unity of body, mind, and spirit, and also in terms of their physical unity on all levels.
The osteopathic approach
The principle of osteopathy relates, on the one hand, to the mobility of the body as a whole, and on the other hand, to the intrinsic movements of the tissues, individual body parts, and organ systems, as well as their interaction. Every body part, every organ, requires ample freedom of movement to function optimally.
From an osteopathic perspective, restricted mobility initially leads to tissue tension and subsequently to functional disorders. According to osteopathy, the body can no longer compensate for the sum of these dysfunctions – resulting in symptoms.
When investigating the causes of ailments in the human body, structural dysfunction and the resulting impairment are paramount. The goal is to identify and correct this so-called somatic dysfunction. Osteopathy, therefore, does not treat diseases in the conventional sense, but rather movement disorders in the broadest sense.
Our bodies consist of countless structures, all of which are directly or indirectly interconnected. This connection is established by the fasciae, thin sheaths of connective tissue that surround every structure and together form a large, continuous fascial network throughout the body. From an osteopathic perspective, movement restrictions and dysfunctions can spread via the fasciae and manifest as symptoms in other parts of the body.
How is an osteopathic treatment performed?
Detecting a dysfunction requires extensive and intensive training of the sense of touch. Osteopathic treatment is performed using specially developed osteopathic techniques. The goal is to enable the patient to naturally restore their own balance by improving the mobility of the affected structure.
Osteopathy is not limited to treating individual symptoms, but always considers the person as a whole. Therefore, it does not treat diseases, but people. For this reason, it is not meaningful to specify indications for osteopathy. The elimination of symptoms is not the primary goal of treatment, but rather a result of resolving restrictions and osteopathic dysfunctions of any kind.
Before starting osteopathic treatment, it is sometimes advisable to first undergo a conventional medical diagnosis.
Feel free to contact me beforehand about this.
Findings from previous medical examinations are also helpful. Osteopathy complements conventional medicine in many cases, but does not replace it.
An osteopathic treatment session lasts between 30 and 60 minutes. Each new therapy session is individually tailored to the patient's symptoms. The exact course of treatment depends on the individual case.
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Osteopathy for children and adolescents
Osteopathy is suitable for all age groups. This naturally also applies to children, who are in a phase of life where internal and external influences have such a decisive impact. At no other stage of development does the organism undergo such significant anatomical, physiological, and psychological changes.
From an osteopathic perspective, functional disorders can arise as early as birth, leading to symptoms or contributing to certain diseases only decades later. The osteopath seeks the cause of the functional disorder with the aim of restoring the affected structure to its original movement.
The aim of osteopathic treatment is to optimally support the child's development, mobilize the body's self-healing powers, and proactively counteract developmental problems. To treat infants and children, it is essential to have a thorough understanding of the child's different developmental stages, including normal sensory, emotional, and neurological development, as well as specific pediatric pathologies.
COST
Treatment costs for patients with statutory health insurance
Osteopathy is now included in the benefits package of many statutory health insurance companies. The reimbursement amount for osteopathy varies from company to company. Please inquire with your health insurance company about possible subsidies. Patients must therefore bear the costs of treatment themselves. Numerous statutory health insurance companies subsidize osteopathic treatments.
Treatment costs for private patients
For privately insured patients, most private health insurance companies cover the treatment costs of a doctor or alternative practitioner in whole or in part (to be sure whether your insurance company will cover the costs, I recommend asking beforehand!).
For privately insured patients (private full insurance, private supplementary insurance, public service health insurance and postal workers' health insurance), billing is carried out according to the fee schedule for alternative practitioners (GebüH).
Important NOTE
You can cancel scheduled appointments free of charge up to 24 hours in advance, without giving a reason. Unfortunately, we must charge for late cancellations or no-shows, as the time reserved for you cannot be used for other appointments.