Osteopaths Manage Chronic Pain To Prevent Further Injury, Australia

Main Category: Bones / Orthopedics
Also Included In: Complementary Medicine / Alternative Medicine
Article Date: 10 May 2007 - 12:00 PDT

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The Australian Osteopathic Association (AOA) held its annual Osteopathy Awareness Week April 22 - 28, 2007. The theme of this year's Osteopathy Week is 'prevention is better than cure' and the focus is on how osteopaths can assist people of all ages to prevent injuries that occur very easily in daily life.

Osteopaths are highly trained health professionals, who treat and manage chronic pain, including chronic back or neck pain, sciatica or arthritis. As well as managing chronic pain, Osteopaths encourage individuals to proactively prevent injuries and ailments, which in the long term lead to better overall health and less time and money spent on treatment.

GPs can now refer patients to Osteopaths (already recognised as Allied Health Professionals) for chronic pain treatment under the Medicare Plus scheme. Since November 2005, patients can receive a $45.85 Medicare Plus rebate for osteopathic services under the Enhanced Primary Care Plan (EPC).

A 2004 census of osteopaths conducted by the Australian Osteopathic Association (AOA) showed that just over 50% of osteopathic patients present with complaints of chronic pain, that is, pain lasting more than 12 weeks [i]. According to that same census, 27.3% of patients seen by an osteopath complain of lumbar or spine pain and 24.4% present with neck pain.

Osteopathy is a form of drug-free, manual medicine that focuses on total body health by treating and strengthening the musculoskeletal framework. It positively affects the body's nervous, circulatory and lymphatic systems.

"Osteopathy is a unique holistic approach to health care. We do not simply concentrate on treating the problem area, but use manual techniques to balance all the systems of the body," explains Mr. Scott Baxter, Federal President of the AOA.

Studies on the effects of osteopathic treatments demonstrate the high success rate osteopaths have in treating pain. An Australian study on the effect of osteopathic treatment on people with chronic and sub-chronic neck pain found that during the course of osteopathic treatment self -rated pain and disability was significantly reduced [ii].

An estimated two-thirds of the population will suffer from neck pain at some time in their life [iii]. Neck pain can be just plain irritating and annoying, but in the worst scenario also severely debilitating. Neck pain is a prevalent reason for absence from work, and is given more often as a reason than complaints of low back pain in some industries [iv].

The test patients in the Australian study were given osteopathic treatments over a four-week period that included muscle energy and counterstrain techniques, as well as soft tissue massage and articulation. This course of treatments considerably decreased the quality, intensity and disabling effect of neck pain, regardless of whether the pain was chronic or sub-chronic.

The aim of all osteopathic treatment is to restore the body's natural ability to heal itself using biomechanical principles in conjunction with lifestyle improvements and a healthy diet. Consideration of psychological factors, nutrition, exercise and stress reduction strategies all form a part of osteopathic treatments.

Osteopaths are required to study a five-year full-time university course together with practical training, covering subjects such as anatomy, physiology, biochemistry and pathology.

At July 2005, 275 Australian Osteopaths had registered to participate in the Medicare Plus scheme. To find your nearest Osteopath, visit the Australian Osteopathic Association's web page at www.osteopathic.com.au and click on 'Search'. For more information about Osteopathy and its health benefits for your patients, call 1800-4-OSTEO (1 800 467 836).

Australian Osteopathic Association
www.osteopathic.com.au

[i] Osteopaths Census 2004, Australian Osteopathic Association.
[ii] Fryer J, Alvizatos J, Lamaro J. The effect of osteopathic treatment on people with chronic and sub-chronic neck pain: a pilot study. International Journal of Osteopathic Medicine 2005;8:41-48.
[iii] Cote P, Cassidy JD, Carroll L. The Saskatchewan health and back pain survey: the prevalence of neck pain and related disability in Saskatchewan adults. Spine 1998;23:1689-98.
[iv] Anderson HI, Ejertsson G, Leden I, Rosenburg C. Chronic pain in a geographically defined population: studies of differences on age, gender, social class and pain localization. Clin J Pain 1993;9:174-82.

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