Osteopathy

Osteopathy is a recognized health profession that uses hands-on therapy to diagnose and treat pain, poor function and lack of mobility in the body. It is well known for  treatment of  musculoskeletal problems and aims to improve function and overall health and well-being. 

It was developed in the late 19th century by Andrew Taylor Still, an American doctor, and it has three guiding principles: 
  • The body is a unit
  • structure and function are interrelated
  • and the body has self-healing mechanisms. 

Osteopaths use a range of therapy approaches to treat the body, including 
soft tissue work, joint and ligament mobilization and stretching neural manipulation,  manual lymphatic drainage, exercise prescription, and education.
Osteopaths aim to find the cause of the problem, which involves looking for other areas that have changed as the body adapts to an original injury. They are well known for using their hands to release tensions and restrictions located some distance from the problem area to help change occur. 

In Australia, Osteopaths are Allied Health professionals and are five-year University trained with a Bachelor's and Master’s degree, having studied anatomy, physiology, clinical medicine and osteopathic techniques. 

All significant health funds recognize Osteopathy, which is included under their “extras” cover. No referral is required.

Medicare referrals cover osteopathy under Enhanced Primary Care for up to five consultations annually. See your GP for more information. 
​
DVA, workers' compensation and NDIS funding may be available in some circumstances. 
(
​Manual Lymphatic Drainage

Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) is a type of gentle bodywork that uses specific gentle, rhythmic movements to stimulate and support the lymphatic system. 
The techniques used in (MLD) help dilate and stimulate tiny peripheral lymph vessels below the skin encouraging them  to work harder, carrying excess fluid,
proteins and debris down into larger  vessels, ducts and lymph nodes eventually draining into the venous system.


What is the lymph system?
The lymphatic system comprises lymphatic vessels, lymph nodes and ducts in a network across the entire body. 
It is often described as the body’s “garbage disposal system” as its primary role is to move excess fluid, toxins and other waste material from the body.
The lymph system is vitally important for :
  •     Immune defense: It improves passage of lymph towards lymph nodes that filter out and deal with harmful substances like bacteria and viruses.
  •     Fluid balance: It helps return excess fluid from tissues back into the bloodstream preventing oedema.
  •     Waste removal: It carries waste products away from the tissues.
​




 How does Manual Lymphatic Drainage or (MLD) work and how does it help you?
  • MLD helps dilates lymph vessels and increases the rate and volume of pumping of the vessels.
  • It increases lymph formation, de-congests and normalizes connective tissue found just under the skin that are often swollen and thicker with inflammation
  • It increases the transport of immune cells and antibodies to lymph nodes, strengthening the immune system.
  • It deeply relaxes the body reducing the activity of the Symphathetic Nervous System, the fight/flight response.
  • It can help chronic muscle and joint pain by draining away inflammatory mediators in the surrounding tissues..
  • It improves blood circulation, without increasing blood pressure.

How can Manual Lymphatic Drainage or (MLD) be incorporated in an osteopathy treatment?

Osteopathy is manual therapy that uses hands on techniques to improve the function and structure of the body and assist the body’s self healing capacity. 
Many conditions such as frozen shoulder, chronic arthritic joint pain, rheumatoid arthritis and acute injuries such as an ankle sprain contain
inflammation that causes pain.
MLD manual techniques can be incorporated in an osteopathic treatment to help the lymph system  de-congest and drain painful areas
with high levels of inflammatory mediators as in the above conditions.
It is assisting the body's self healing processes through speeding up tissue recovery, reducing pain, and improving  joint mobility after sprains, strains, or trauma.

Manual Lymphatic Drainage is one element of more involved therapy known as Combined Decongestive Therapy or (CDP).
This includes compression garments and exercise prescription used for the management of lymphedema.
Matt Blackburn Osteopath is qualified to provide the hands on part of this therapy MLD in clinic.

He can offer Manual Lymphatic Drainage as a stand-alone therapy or as part of his osteopathic treatment.
Please phone 0418 089661 to discuss with Matt whether (MLD) may benefit you.

Treatments are covered by Private Health Insurance and Medicare EPC referrals under Osteopathy.

Some conditions that Manual Lymphatic Drainage may help include:
  • Acute injuries eg. ankle sprain, bruising after a fall,
  • Post surgery recovery: helps reduce swelling and speeds up healing after surgeries such as knee replacement, ankle surgery.
  • Frozen shoulder,
  • Fibromyalgia and chronic regional pain syndrome.
  • Sinusitus , bursitis.
  • Rheumatoid arthritis and Osteo arthritis,
  • Anxiety,
  • Chronic fatigue.

 



​