Osteopathy

Motion is Life

            Osteopathy encompasses the principle in health care that highlights the function in disease and health of the musculoskeletal system. The functioning of the human body is controlled by motion. In this case, life cannot exist void of any form of motion. Osteopaths possess a holistic approach that is based on the belief that the holistic functioning of the body depends on good structural balance therefore if bodily motion is not functioning appropriately, then the body will not work well (Chiras, 2005). For this reason, the inference that motion is life is true based on the beliefs of the osteopaths whose main emphasis is on the right functioning of the musculo-skeletal system that controls any type of motion in the body. Life can come to a stand still due to the impediment of motion by a disease, which warrants the intervention of an osteopath who aids the body by enhancing its ability to overcome impediments through the removal of the causative factors. This paper concentrates on the exploration of the ‘Motion is life’ concept with reference to five diverse Osteopathic principles.

The first principle includes the body is a unit. Recognition has been made by osteopaths towards the concept that the human body is a harmonious and homogenous whole culminating to the conclusion that one part of the body cannot be injured without affecting or damaging the other parts as well as the whole organism (DiGiovanna, et al, 2004). For example, when an ailment attacks the body and inflames a certain part, this part might be removed surgically providing temporarily relief to the patient. After sometime, the same patient may be attacked by similar inflammations on other parts of the body. After visiting the hospital again, the patient is recommended to undergo other surgical procedures with the belief that the first one was a success. The fact that the first surgical procedure was a success may not be true due to the forces of motion in the body. This is because the disease poisons such as oxalic or uric acid, scrofulous or psoriatic or the poisonous ptomaines and alkaloids travel through the blood hence affecting one body part or the other. This indicates that motion is very important.

The respiratory system ensures that breath is steered as it moves through the tissues. In this case, it enhances metabolism as it depends on the gases such as oxygen, which are transported through the respiratory system (Enoka, 2008). The muscles, bones and joints are utilized during the physical movement of an organism from one place to the other. This can only be accomplished through a positive coordination between the three. Joints occur after the meeting of two bones hence making them flexible and enhancing smooth movement. When bones are involved in movement, they are pulled and controlled by the masses of tough elastic tissues known as muscles without which the bones would not move at all. The blood aids the body in transporting important material such as oxygen (Haycock, 2000). This cannot be facilitated without the help of the blood cells that are produced by the bones. Blood is pumped through the veins and arteries. This type of motion if impeded would culminate into many bodily problems, which depend on the motion of blood in the body. The lymphatic systems work in close coordination with the other body parts in destroying pathogens, removal of waste material and delivery of nutrients, hormones and oxygen. The obstruction of the motion of any of the above-mentioned parts will culminate into the affecting of the whole organism.

The second osteopathic principle states that structure and function are interrelated. From birth until death, tissues of human organism are in motion –developing, differentiating, adapting, evolving and degrading. The purpose of each cell leads to the purpose of tissues and organs. The spinal cord controls the communication between the body and the brain, which takes place through the movement of neurons. When the movement of the neurons is affected, such bodily functions as speech and physical movement are affected. When a person wants to twist or bend his spine, each of the 24 vertebrae has to be involved in the movement to facilitate the smoothness of that motion. If any of the vertebrae is unable to function appropriately, the others will be forced to accomplish its feat culminating into a painful movement (Parsons & Marcer, 2005). Each organ has its own purpose and every organ system relates with others. Respiratory system gives oxygen to blood cells (the rule of artery is supreme), cardiovascular system pumps blood with oxygen to the alimentary system, which gives nutrition that also is spread by the blood and so on. Such interactions and relations between systems within our body are innumerable. Any pathological change in structure affects the function. It is obvious for osteopath to be competent and understand that by palpating, he must fill and understand the body structure and tissues will tell what is wrong. If you heal the structure, function will be healed too.

The third osteopathic principle expounds on the fact that the body contains its own repair, self-regulating and healing ability. Under Osteopathy, the role of an osteopath encompasses the removal of the obstacles in the body while the body restores and repairs itself because an obstacle is present in an organism if it cannot cure itself (McKone, 1997). Osteopaths have the belief that our own nature is the physician to our diseases, as the body has the ability to repair self regulate and heal. In this case, the osteopaths should only assist the body to overcome diseases through the removal of causative factors to encourage the healing process but they should not meddle with the body’s nature of recovery. The human body responds to external and internal stimuli through the nervous system. These responses can only be mediated through the utilization of the nervous system. The nervous system is supported by the musculo-skeletal system, which can cause damage to the nervous system by responding to abnormal or increased stimulation.

Osteopaths can contribute to the healing process in this case through manipulative therapy, which only modifies the nerve impulses. The musculo-skeletal system might be responding to the wrong stimuli due to obstructions culminating from the tear of a muscle. The body after which the motion resumes its normal smooth flow can only repair this (McKone, 2001). The circulatory and respiratory systems can be substantially affected by the musculo-skeletal system dysfunction. In this case, the heart muscles are in charge of the pumping of blood in and out of the heart .When a dysfunction occurs in the spine, it affects the efficiency of lymph and blood circulation. Therefore, the supply of tissues with nutrients and oxygen is achieved by the influx of blood through the arteries and drainage of the waste substances through veins and lymph vessels. For osteopath, it is necessary to remember: motion goes forward and backwards. To cure damaged area – remove the obstacle by the manual treatment and supply the area with adequate circulation.

The fourth osteopathic principle confirms that circulatory channels and nerves provide an integrating and supportive network. Consequently, without the support of the circulatory channels and the nerves the functioning of the body would be affected subsequently. The nerves contained in the nervous system, which aids the body in responding to both internal and external stimuli. Nerve impulses that are transported through the nerves control bodily functions such as speech, hearing, and physical movement (Nelson et al, 2006). Without the support of the nerves, no part of the body would move freely as they do normally. Conversely, every part of the body is interrelated through the nervous system that functions through the nerves. Recent neurological research developments point to the fact that the nerves possess a trophic function in addition to the carrying of messages. This means that such substances as fats and proteins are transported at varying speeds in both directions via the nerve fibers. In addition to the blood and lymph circulation, the nerves provide a supporting network where transportation of important and fundamental substances is concerned.

The blood and lymph circulatory channels provide a supporting network with the nerves. This is because the circulatory channels are controlled by the musculo-skeletal system whose motion is controlled by the nerves. The diaphragm, one of the components of the musculo-skeletal system exerts pressure between the pelvic and thoracic area controlling the movements of the lungs. The lungs contain both the blood and lymph circulatory channels whose main role is to deliver oxygenated blood and remove wastes. The movement of the diaphragm rests on the stimulation of the nerves (Sambrook, 2001). When blood is pumped to the legs by the heart, it requires a muscle pump for it to return to the heart for oxygenation. The nerves control these actions, therefore creating, and integrating and supportive network with the circulation channels. The osteopath’s role in this case comes in when the functioning of the musculo-skeletal system is impaired. They utilize the manipulative therapy to stipulate the nerves that in turn work towards enhancing the movement of the musculo-skeletal system, which finally stimulates the functioning of the circulatory channels hence providing the supportive network needed for the sustenance of life.

Under the osteopathic principles, disease contains somatic components that do not only manifest in the disease but also culminate into the contribution of the disease maintenance. Consequently, the appearance of a dysfunction in any body part is manifested through symptoms and signs appearances. “The effects of disease affecting an organ will not be confined to that organ alone. Because of the neurological interconnections of an organ, there will be reflex effects in other tissues. For example, when there is an inflamed organ such as an acutely inflamed appendix or gallbladder, muscle spasm and tenderness develop in the abdominal wall. In addition, more subtle changes occur in segmentally related spinal tissues that include muscle tension and superficial oedema. Thus, there may be dysfunction of one or more segments of the spine because of visceral disturbance (Sammut & Searle-Barnes,, 1998). The osteopaths do not only focus on the treatment of diseases but they also focus on the prevention of the occurrence of the diseases. This is because the functioning of the human body depends on the human motion that can be impeded substantially by the presence of a disease in the body. Motion contributes to the sustenance of human life leading to the concert that motion is life. It is therefore fundamental to prevent pathology before it endangers people’s lives. Motion of life, skill and ability to feel are obligatory for osteopaths more than for any doctor. These principles form a complete conceptual model. Power of manual treatment cannot be underestimated.

The final osteopathic principle infers that Musculo-skeletal systems significance far exceeds that of providing framework and support. Every time a person is involved in such movements as shooting pool with friends or sprinting in order not to get late for class or normal walking, he utilizes the Musculo-skeletal system, which is made up of the muscles, bones and joints (School Specialty Publishing, 2006). Their main role is the provision of a framework and support but they also encompass underlying functions that have nothing to do with the framework and support role. The bones contain stem cells that produce the red blood cells that are utilized in the blood circulation motion for transporting oxygen to and from the heart to the other body parts. In addition to aiding the bones in movement, the muscles are concerned with the enhancement of the stomach and intestines in the breaking of food and moving it to the digestive system (Ward & Raymond, 2002). The cardiac muscles enhance the pumping of the blood to and from the heart. Research shows that The Musculo-skeletal system not only forms 60% of the body but it also expends the highest amount of bodily energy. In this case, the Musculo-skeletal system cannot only be defined as the provider of framework and support for the body, but it also forms the major dynamic living body component.

Osteopathy is based on the notion that there is a link between the way a human body functions and its structure. This means that the belief of the osteopaths is that the structure of the body affects its functionality, which in turn is affected by motion. The functioning of the body cannot exist without motion (Stone, 1999). For this reason, the osteopaths view the motion is life concept as being the absolute truth as it enables them to practice actively their medical procedures that are based on the removal of the causative factors of illnesses while at the same time leaving the body to heal itself. The treatment provided osteopaths includes joint manipulation and articulation as well as tissue massage without the application of any medicines or surgical procedures (Taylor, 2009). Motions is life concept can easily be linked to osteopathy because motion depends on the correct functioning of the Musculo-skeletal system which does not only offer framework and support to the human body but also enhances the correct functioning of the circulatory channels that augment human motion. Impairment or the Musculo-skeletal system can be easily diagnosed and treated through the manual techniques applied by osteopaths hence creating a strong link between osteopathic treatment and the Motion is life concept. This is because Treatment is based on diagnosis that comes from knowing of etiology (cause), evidence (diagnostics) and reasoning (how to)

The purposes of treatment in osteopathy are simple: to find a cure, to improve prognosis and to identify and alter specified components, which are considered Predisposing/maintaining factors of the illness (Watkins, 2010). The Motion is life concept is a very fundamental concept in the understanding of the structure and functioning of the body because all human body functioning depends on motion. Human life cannot exist without motion as the vital substances required for the sustenance of the body are transported from one part of the body to the other through motion. A strong link exists between the concept and osteopathy as it can only be defined based on the osteopathic principles that provide an in depth understanding of the concept (Zatsiorsky, 2002). In conclusion, no discussion of the Motion is life concept should be carried out without the aid of the five osteopathic principles. The body is a unit, structure and function are interrelated and it contains its own repair, self-regulating and healing ability, circulatory channels and nerves provide an integrating and supportive network and finally Musculo-skeletal systems significance far exceeds that of providing framework and support

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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