How to Use Osteopathy to Treat Muscle Injuries

Muscle injuries may be caused by many factors including overstraining, awkward movement and acute accidental injury. You can even cause injury by not stretching properly. Osteopathic techniques can be beneficial in treating injuries to the muscles. Costs are generally moderate for each appointment, which should last at least 30 minutes. Practitioners can manipulate specific areas to release pressure and strain from the afflicted muscles. Osteopathic treatments are centered around a total body approach and may seek to add vitamin supplements to the course of treatment. Follow these steps to learn more.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Computer with Internet access

Understand Causes of Muscle Injury

1. Consult a Doctor of Osteopathy if you experience pain after lifting something too heavy or if you have twisted in an awkward way and have resulting pain.

2. Talk to a Doctor of Osteopathy if you've caused yourself tension from standing or sitting with bad or strained posture for too long.

3. Recognize that the use of computer and handheld devices can result in muscle injuries. Doctors of Osteopathy are seeing an increase in the need to treat repetitive muscle strain injuries.

Prepare for your Appointment

4. Relax, if possible. This will allow the practitioner to use the treatment methods most effectively.

5. Know that there are various techniques used for specific injuries. The "Active Release Technique," for example, is popular for treating hamstring injuries.

6. Choose clothing with care. Light fabrics are easier to work with when applying manipulative techniques.

Plan for Long-Term Treatment of Chronic Muscle Injury

7. Assess your diet and nutrition plan. Healthy foods and daily exercise can reduce swelling of the joints, making the surrounding muscles less sore.

8. Adjust your personal activities to work within your physical limitations. Pushing through an injury and ignoring your body's internal warning system may prevent proper healing.

9. Implement a consistent and steady strengthening, conditioning and stretching program under the direction of an osteopathic practitioner.

10. Be patient and set realistic goals. Chronic muscle injury could require a lengthy treatment.

Tips & Warnings

• Recognize the early sign of muscle injury like soreness, swelling, lack of motion and seek the care of an osteopath at the onset of such symptoms.
• If you experience an increased amount of pain after treatment, contact your osteopathic doctor immediately to discuss the situation.
• Osteopathy shouldn't be used as the exclusive treatment for severe diseases like cancer, bone disease or neurological conditions with nerve damage.

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