Breathing Disorders and Osteopathic Medicine

Source: Caroline Stone Osteopathy Clinic, Mount Lawley
http://your-osteopath.com/old/practitioners.htm

Overview

People suffering from breathing disorders often have many tensions and restrictions in their ribcage. Whether they suffer from asthma, chronic bronchitis, reduced breathing from old rib fractures, emphysema or some other chronic respiratory problem, osteopathy can help. This is achieved by improving the elasticity of the ribcage, easing muscle tension to reduce respiratory fatigue, and helping the person cope with their condition more readily. Breathing exercises, rib stretching and postural advice can be given which helps to maintain better respiratory function alongside treatment. It is not always possible to resolve the underlying condition which may be related to other diseases or allergies, for example, but a better quality of life can be achieved and sometimes a reliance on medication can be reduced. Osteopathic management with respiratory disorders may be done in conjunction with your G.P. or other healthcare professionals.

As one of the most common presenting conditions to Osteopaths is asthma the information below may be invaluable.


Why are osteopaths interested in asthma?
Asthma is a common and sometimes debilitating respiratory disorder which can affect people of all ages. About one in ten Australians suffers from asthma at some time during their lives.

Sufferers experience breathing difficulties, wheezing, discomfort or pain in the chest, tightness in the chest, and sometimes coughing, shaking and vomiting as well. Each suffer's experience is individual, and not all asthma attacks are the same. There are common features though, and each asthma sufferer has to some degree mechanical changes in their rib cage, tension and fatigue in the respiratory muscles (including the diaphragm), poorer movement in the spine, neck and shoulder girdle and often, tension in the head and jaw.

These changes only serve to complicate the picture of each person's asthma, whether it is allergic (and triggered by pollen or what or dairy products, for example) or non-allergic, and triggered by physical exercise or stress, for example.

Osteopaths are interested in asthma, as they can detect these physical changes, and help to alleviate them over time. Keeping the chest, lungs, respiratory muscles and surrounding areas of the spine, shoulders, neck and throat freer and more elastic seems to help in lessening the asthma to some degree, and may also help to reduce the need for some asthma medication, on occasion.


Does Osteopathy replace conventional medical treatment?
No. Osteopaths recognize the important role of anti-inflammatory medication, antibiotics and broncho-dilators in the treatment of asthma, especially in acute attacks. Osteopaths can work in conjunction with other health care professionals with the long-term aim of decreasing the patient's dependence on medication.

Osteopaths work through all of the body, as they consider that restrictions in many parts of the spine, legs, pelvis shoulders and neck can all affect the lungs, rib cage and breathing muscles. Osteopaths release tension and poor function throughout to reduce load on the respiratory system, and thus help the body to cope more effectively with the asthma condition. They use gentle techniques to:

make the chest and ribs move more effectively
releasing the diaphragm and other muscle used for breathing
improving circulation and drainage in the chest, to help with inflammation and function

Other areas of management include the formulation of an individual exercise program, with emphasis on breathing exercises and the avoidance of aggravating factors. Your Osteopath may also provide(s) advice on diet, posture and lifestyle which may be of benefit.