Geriatric osteopathy: an effective manual therapy to improve quality of life in the elderly

Osteopathy is a manual therapy that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of dysfunctions of the body structure, with the aim of improving the body's function and mobility. As we age, our body undergoes a series of natural changes that can negatively affect our health and well-being. This is where geriatric osteopathy can help to improve the quality of life of our elders.

At the Pablo del Pino osteopathy centre, we understand the importance of looking after the health of our elderly, which is why we offer specialised geriatric osteopathy treatments. Our approach is based on a thorough understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the body, and how these change with age. We make sure we work closely with our geriatric patients to understand their individual needs and tailor our treatments accordingly.

Personalised treatments in geriatric osteopathy to address structural dysfunctions in older people

At the IOA Institute, a leading osteopathic training and certification organisation, geriatric osteopathy has been proven effective in the treatment of a wide range of disorders related to ageing. Some of these conditions include osteoporosis, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and cognitive impairment, among others.

At the Pablo del Pino Osteopathy Centre, we use safe and effective manual techniques to address the muscular, skeletal and soft tissue dysfunctions that can contribute to these health problems. In doing so, we help our geriatric patients improve their quality of life, reduce pain, stiffness and disability, and restore their normal mobility and function.

osteopatía geriátrica en banalmadena
geriatric osteopathy

Geriatric osteopathy: an evidence-based therapeutic approach to treat various conditions related to ageing

In short, geriatric osteopathy is an effective and safe manual therapy to improve the quality of life of our elderly. At the Pablo del Pino osteopathy centre in Benalmádena, we offer personalised and evidence-based treatments to help our patients live a healthier and more active life. Contact us for more information and to book your appointment.

As professionals in Osteopathy, we provide athletes with the opportunity for a faster and more efficient recovery from their sports injuries, allowing them to return to training and competition more quickly, as well as maintaining a body in optimal condition to improve their athletic performance.

The human body is the most complex and precise "machine" that exists. Our aim as Osteopaths is to maintain balance in the body of every athlete. A balanced body is able to better tolerate and redistribute the forces and tensions to which it is subjected, reducing the risk of injury and improving physical performance. In addition, in the event of injury, recovery will be more effective.

Each sport requires a specific focus on different areas of the body, such as the lower limbs in football, the upper limbs in tennis, and both upper and lower limbs in triathlon. Although as Osteopaths we cannot regenerate a joint, we can restore its functional balance so that it can move optimally despite the injury.

At the "Pablo del Pino" Osteopathy Centre, we are experts in working with athletes and in prevention and physical rehabilitation. If you want to improve your sport, do not hesitate to make an appointment and ask us how we can help you to increase your performance and improve your quality of life.

Visceral sciatica is one of the most common conditions in the adult population. It is often believed that this pain originating in the lower back and extending down the leg is caused by problems in the spine. However, as an osteopath, I can state that this condition is mainly due to kidney disorders, which generate and accentuate the inflammation of the sciatic nerve.

In my experience as a practitioner, I have observed that after periods of excesses such as the Christmas holidays, it is common to receive patients with sciatica. These excesses often include the ingestion of toxins that are poorly tolerated by the body, which are filtered by the kidneys.

There are several triggers for visceral sciatica, including:

  • Structural causes: blockage in the dorsal vertebrae T9, T10 and T11. Hypomobility is generated in these vertebral segments, which generates hypermobility in the lumbar area, facilitating sciatica due to disc herniation or protrusion with nerve entrapment, due to the asymmetry produced in the pelvis and lumbar area.
  • Emotional causes: low self-esteem, sadness, fear, feelings of guilt or abandonment and melancholy.
  • Nutritional: coffee, alcohol, sausages, processed meats, seafood, dairy products and derivatives.

As an osteopath, I can help relieve kidney inflammation through manipulation techniques of the vertebral segments mentioned above, followed by fascial techniques, massage and gentle stretching of the affected area. In addition, dietary and lifestyle changes are highly recommended to help prevent future inflammation.

Remember to take care of your kidneys to prevent visceral sciatica and improve your quality of life.

In the International Institute of Advanced Osteopathy advocate classical osteopathy as I believe it to be Andrew Taylor Stilladapted and evolved to the present time. They say NO to physiotherapy and medicalisation of osteopathyThe training programme is adapted to the parameters set in other European countries with academically regulated osteopathy. Its training programme is adapted to the parameters set in other European countries with academically regulated osteopathy. As of today, there is no law in Spain that recognises osteopathy as a regulated study.. Therefore, those who claim such things in advertising their courses are lying and commit the offence of misleading advertising. 

There is no country in the world where in order to study osteopathy you have to be a physiotherapist or a doctor.. The International Institute of Advanced Osteopathybelieves that academic regulation, as has already occurred in many European countries, would put an end to the absurd controversy (invented by some), wanting to monopolise osteopathy towards a certain health branch. And thus, it would be demonstrated once again, as in the rest of the countries in the world where osteopathy is a regulated study, that osteopathy does not belong exclusively to any existing health branch. Osteopathy is, according to the WHO and the European Parliament, a health profession of first intention and independent from other health professions (e.g. medicine or physiotherapy).

Almost 20 countries in the world have regulated osteopathy, but in Spain we are still waiting for our illustrious politicians to decide to put us on an equal footing with other countries in the European Community to which we belong. We suffer an unfair discrimination. 

Pablo del pino osteópata | Osteopatía | Benalmádena
Pablo del pino osteopath Benalmádena

In Europe, osteopathy is NOT a speciality of another profession. It has developed as an independent profession in such a way that it responds to the needs of a population attracted by its simplicity, its lack of danger and its effectiveness.

On 29 May 1997 the European Parliament voted a resolution (law) on non-conventional medicines by Paul Lannoye MEP, A4-0075/1997. The World Health Organisation (WHO) considers Osteopathy as a health profession of first intention and independent from other health professions (e.g. medicine or physiotherapy).and defines the training access to it in its document "Parameters for Osteopathic Training", published in 2010. Many great osteopaths have been doctors or physiotherapists, but none have supported an osteopathy that has been phagocytosed by another health branch or exclusive to them.

It is important to point out that there is no such thing as a masseur-osteopath, physiotherapist-osteopath, doctor-osteopath (except in the USA). Some people use it to hide their incapacity as an osteopath behind a massage, an electrotherapy device or a cortisone infiltration. 

Osteopathy does not need any health collective to parasite it, adulterate it and even less to phagocytose it. Osteopathy has its own philosophy and its own idiosyncrasy.

Some universities in Spain have started to offer osteopathic courses, and their training programmes include subjects such as mathematics or English... which gives an idea of the concept they have of osteopathy. One of them, the first year offers 770 teaching hours of which only 150 correspond to osteopathic sciences; the second year, with 760 teaching hours and only 125 hours of osteopathic sciences... little more can be said. Moreover, some of these universities sell their programmes as official, which is a swindle to this day, since the Ministry of Education makes it clear on its website that these studies do not lead to an official degree. Osteopathy is much more than a profession, it is a way of life. And this, very few people understand.

Finally, a few words from our great master, A.T. STILL, the father of osteopathy, who already in his time expressed his opinion on this subject: "We believe that our therapeutic house only fits the size of osteopathy and that when other methods try to enter it, a part of osteopathy must necessarily leave that house".

Source International Institute of Advanced Osteopathy

A study has concluded that there is "promising evidence" for osteopathy to treat pain associated with musculoskeletal conditions.

The osteopathy is an alternative medicine whose main objectives are to restore and maintain the balance of the whole body in order to achieve its recovery and preserve its capacity for self-regulation, explain from Top Doctors.

The professional in charge of carrying out the osteopathy is the osteopathwho detects, treats and prevents health problems by stretching and massaging the muscles, joints and connective tissues of each patient.

Osteopathy is similar to physiotherapy. However, the techniques used by osteopaths are based on the laws governing life and living organisms.

Osteopathy as a treatment for musculoskeletal injuries

A recent study has concluded that there is "promising evidence" that osteopathy, through physical manipulation of the body's tissues and bones, may be able to relieve pain associated with musculoskeletal conditionsas published in the magazine BMJ Open.

This review of the scientific evidence has highlighted that there is also little or inconclusive evidence to support the use of osteopathy in children, to treat migraine or to treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Osteopathy is an alternative medicine that was first developed in the late 19th century in the United States, and, in the last decade, it has become more and more popular. gaining popularity for the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders.

This is why the researchers of the present study set out to assess their safety and efficacy for different conditions.

Therefore, they collected data from different studies and clinical trials that had been published by November 2021.

In total, nine systematic reviews or meta-analyses conducted between 2013 and 2020 were analysed, involving 55 primary trials and 3740 participants.

All of them reported on the use of osteopathy in a wide range of conditions, such as acute and chronic non-specific low back pain, chronic non-specific neck pain, chronic non-oncological pain, primary headache and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

More research is needed to corroborate the data.

The findings that were grouped together reported that osteopathy is more effective than other approaches to reduce pain and improve physical function in acute/chronic non-specific low back and neck pain and chronic non-cancer pain.

However, the small sample size, some contradictory findings and wide variations in the study design, concluded that cannot be backed up the effectiveness of osteopathy for its use in children with various conditions, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, asthma, infantile colic, migraine treatment and IBS.

As the researchers explain, the only conclusions of this review suggest that "osteopathy may be effective in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders, specifically with regard to the chronic low back pain non-specific and low back pain in pregnant women or those who have just had a baby".

Despite this, as there are few corroborating studies, it still more systematic reviews are needed The experts conclude that "well-conducted" clinical trials, as well as clinical trials following different specific guidelines, aim to "confirm and extend the possible use of osteopathy in some conditions, as well as its safety".

Source MundoDeportivo