Osteopathy, also known as osteopathic medicine, was founded by Dr Andrew Taylor Still, an American physician in the 19th century. Osteopathic philosophy gives a holistic approach to health and stresses the importance of the musculoskeletal system in a person’s health and well-being. The aim of treatment is to support the body’s self-healing capacity.

The study of ‘biomechanics’ – how each part of the musculoskeletal system interacts with and influences every other part – is central to osteopathy. Any joint or muscle injury must be treated as part of the whole body, since other parts of the musculoskeletal system will also be affected. For example, an ankle injury may mean that the patient limps and favours the other foot. Over time, this imbalance can lead to other injuries, such as soreness in the other ankle, knee or hip, or perhaps back pain. At Movement Matters Osteopathy Gold Coast we devise a strategy of treatment that takes your whole musculoskeletal system into account. Attention is also given to other systems of the body – such as the circulatory, nervous and lymphatic systems – since these all play significant roles in the healing process. Osteopathy can also help with lower back pain and sciatica

As osteopaths we focus on your whole body, including the soft tissues (such as muscles, ligaments and tendons), the spine and nervous system, and may use a variety of different hands-on methods, including:

• Spinal manipulation
• Soft tissue massage techniques
• Articulation – gentle rhythmic joint movements
• Stretching muscles and joint capsules
• Muscle energy techniques – encouraging muscles to work against resistance

Our osteopathic techniques can also include a gentle indirect approach, which can be suitable for the older person, and for those with complex medical problems. Learn me about me.

At Movement Matters Osteopathy Gold Coast we encourage our patients to take responsibility for their own long-term health and wellbeing, we help you find out which lifestyle and environmental factors may be contributing to your condition. These may include poor posture, stress or the need for ergonomic furniture. An osteopath may work out a range of treatments, including individual exercise routines, relaxation techniques or body awareness sessions, which show you how to move your body in gentler ways. View our clinic fees.

As a registered Osteopath, we use joint manipulations, often termed adjustments or high-velocity low-amplitude osteopathic techniques, involving controlled force and specific movements on joints. This aims to restore joint function, alleviate pain, and enhance range of motion.

Joint manipulation’s proposed mechanisms include the release of gas within synovial fluid, creating bubbles that produce the characteristic cracking sound. This gas release contributes to a sense of relief and increased joint mobility. Additionally, the technique involves stretching the joint capsule and ligaments, stimulating proprioceptors that send signals to the nervous system, affecting pain perception and muscle tone.

Joint manipulation may influence the nervous system by stimulating mechanoreceptors, providing feedback to the central nervous system. According to the pain gate control theory, this stimulation can inhibit pain signals’ transmission, contributing to reported pain relief.

Joint mobilisations and articulations are therapeutic techniques used in manual therapy to improve joint function, reduce pain, and enhance overall mobility. Joint mobilisation can restore normal joint mechanics by addressing restrictions in joint motion. This is crucial for individuals with conditions such as osteoarthritis or after joint surgery. Joint mobilisations can also stimulate the production of synovial fluid, which nourishes and lubricates the joint surfaces, promoting smoother movement. These techniques may modulate pain perception by activating mechanoreceptors and influencing the nervous system.

The proposed mechanism involves breaking down adhesions, stretching tight joint capsules, and improving the elasticity of connective tissues. The proprioceptive input generated during these manoeuvres helps retrain the neuromuscular system, promoting better muscle coordination and joint stability. Overall, joint mobilisations and articulations play a valuable role in restoring joint health and function through mechanical, neurophysiological, and proprioceptive mechanisms

Muscle Energy Techniques (MET) are osteopathic manual therapy methods that enhance joint mobility, alleviate pain, and improve muscle function. The benefits of MET lie in its ability to address musculoskeletal dysfunctions, restore optimal muscle length, and promote joint range of motion. These techniques are particularly useful for conditions characterised by muscle imbalances, joint restrictions, or postural abnormalities.

The proposed mechanism of MET involves the utilization of the patient’s own muscular effort in a controlled manner to achieve therapeutic goals. Practitioners employ specific positions and movements, guiding the patient through isometric or isotonic contractions against resistance. This process engages the proprioceptive feedback mechanisms, stimulating muscle spindle activity and encouraging a neurophysiological response. As a result, the targeted muscles undergo relaxation, lengthening, and improved flexibility. Additionally, MET may stimulate blood flow, enhance nutrient delivery, and facilitate the removal of metabolic waste, promoting tissue healing.

The primary aim of myofascial release is to release tension and restrictions within the fascia, a connective tissue that surrounds and supports muscles, bones, and organs. This can alleviate pain, improve flexibility, and enhance the body’s range of motion.

The proposed mechanism of myofascial release involves the manipulation of fascial tissue through gentle and sustained pressure. Fascia can become tight or restricted due to factors like trauma, inflammation, or poor posture. By applying controlled pressure to specific areas, myofascial release helps to elongate and relax the fascia, allowing for improved blood flow, reduced inflammation, and enhanced tissue mobility.

The benefits of myofascial release include pain relief, increased flexibility, improved posture, and enhanced athletic performance. Myofascial release may contribute to stress reduction and relaxation by releasing physical tension stored in the fascial system.