Dr. Curtis McElroy

Author: docmac

  • Cranial Osteopathy- What Is It

    What is cranial osteopathy

    Cranial osteopathy is a branch of osteopathic medicine in which the physician uses their hands to facilitate movement between the skull bones.

    In the mid-1930s Dr. Sutherland helped to develop and teach cranial osteopathy.  He emphasized that the cranial concept was only an extension of, and not separate from, the science of osteopathy.  He felt that the continuity of rhythmic fluid movement through all tissues of the body, including the skull, would help to improve the health of individuals.

    While Dr. Sutherland was a student he pondered the potential of a separate or disarticulated skull.  Because Dr. Still taught that every structure exists because it performs a particular function, Dr. Sutherland had a flash of inspiration that the temporal area of the head may have been open to enable a respiratory motion for an articular mechanism.

    In other words, the temporal area may have been open in order to allow the bones of the head the ability to move.

    Many anatomy books state that the cranial sutures are fused once an individual reaches adulthood.  But, over many years of intensive study Dr. Sutherland came to discover this previously unrecognized phenomenon.  Thoreau and Dr. Sutherland’s practice and further study in the coming years cranial osteopathy has been the study of anatomy and physiology of the cranium and the interrelationship it has with the rest of the body.  Osteopaths and cranial osteopaths can apply this motion for the prevention and treatment of disease as well is the enhancement of health for individuals.

    The use of cranial osteopathy is gentle and effective and can be used for people of all ages, from birth to old age.  Physicians who are trained in cranial osteopathy learn to feel a very subtle and rhythmical shape change that is called Involuntary Motion or Cranial Rhythm.  The existence of this motion was finally confirmed in a series of laboratory tests in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

    By feeling the tension in the cranial rhythm practitioners are able to compare your rhythm with what they consider to be ideal.  This helps them to find the stressors and strains on your body and what tension it may be carrying as a result of past history.

    Cranial osteopathy aims to treat the whole person and not just a single condition so that a wide variety of situations can benefit from the treatment as the body is placed in a position to be able to heal itself.

    Some of the more common symptoms which are treated include back and neck pain, sports injuries, headaches and migraines, sinus problems, stress, recurrent infection, digestive difficulties, colic, sleeping in feeding difficulties in infants.

    The science of osteopathy is a system of diagnosis and treatment that works with the entire structure and function of the body.

    Cranial osteopathy takes this one step further to look more completely at the motion of the cranial bones and how they affect the neurological system and the flow of cerebral spinal fluid.

    The goal of cranial osteopathy is the same as the goal of osteopaths, and that is to work to restore the structure and function of the body to stay in balance and harmony which helps the whole person.

     

  • The Benefits Of An Osteopathic Physician For Seniors

    Benefits of Using an Osteopath in the Senior Years

    Everyone knows that with age comes arthritis.  It is almost inevitable.  Anyone that has lived life to its fullest can appreciate that their body has been through many years of physical strain and stress.  Their joints and muscles have been taxed and the result is discomfort due to arthritis.

    The knees, the ankles, the bones of the feet, the hips, not to mention the back and neck are all at risk.  The deteriorating body in the senior years amounts to much discomfort and stiffness.  Medication, such as pain relievers and anti-inflammatories will help to minimize the discomfort.  However, there is so much more that you can do to relieve this uncomfortable and downright painful health problem.

    First of all, let’s talk about arthritis.  There are two common forms of arthritis, degenerative or osteoarthritis, and inflammatory arthritis.

    Osteoarthritis, also called OA or degenerative arthritis, is the most typical form of arthritis in the individual who is in their senior years.  This type of arthritis is due to the strain and stressors that one has been through just by living life.  Heavy lifting, sports, improper posture, and previous injury accounts for this.  Good news!  There is relief from this type of discomfort.  One of the benefits of using an osteopath in the senior years is that they are very familiar in treating this type of arthritis.  It is commonly seen and many seniors have been treated with a great deal of success.

    Inflammatory arthritis is another type of arthritis with a great deal of people being stricken with RA or rheumatoid arthritis.  This is a painful form of this and causes stiffening and swelling of not only the joints, but also damage to the entire body itself.  This form of arthritis will cause a deterioration of the immune system as well.  Although not easy to treat, many people have found relief and benefit in using an osteopath in the senior years.

    Osteopathic doctors treat the elderly with either form of arthritis with treatment measures such as putting their affected extremities through range of motion exercises and gentle stretching exercises.  This type of treatment will loosen the joints and/or muscles and offer greater pain-free movement.

    The benefits of using an osteopath in the senior years are numerous.  Seniors affected by arthritis have found relief for their stiff joints and muscles.  This has allowed many seniors to live a more active, pain-free lifestyle with greater range of motion.  Not only are they able to physically do more, they are doing it without pain.

    Osteopathic physicians will also work with seniors to help prevent illness and disease through improving their overall health with nutrition, supplement and exercise recommendations.  These changes can help reduce pain and discomfort from current joint problems and reduce the risk for developing other medical problems such as diabetes, stroke and heart attack.  Through an overall approach to health and wellness, osteopaths can help to improve the quality of life for those who are living in their senior years.

    If you are bothered by arthritis or any type of joint or muscle injury, consider being seen for an evaluation and possible treatment by an osteopathic doctor.

    This could be one of the best things that you do for your health.

    RESOURCES

    University of Maryland Medical Center: Osteopathy
    http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/osteopathy-000358.htm

    MedlinePlus: Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
    http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002020.htm

    American Osteopathic Association
    http://www.osteopathic.org/Pages/default.aspx

    American Academy of Osteopathy
    http://www.academyofosteopathy.org/

  • Osteopathic Physician vs. Chiropractic Physicians

    The Difference Between Osteopathic Physicians And Chiropractors

    To an outside observer, the practice of osteopaths and chiropractic medicine may appear to be almost identical.  However, there are significant differences which can impact the medical care which an individual can experience.

    The short answer is that there are many differences between chiropractors and osteopath’s but a more complete answer must take into consideration the fundamental concepts which underlie each particular practice.

    A doctor of osteopathy is a fully licensed medical professional that is taught the skills of osteopathic manipulation as part of their training.

    This is skill of manipulative treatment is covered in multiple extra hours of training that involves applying a precise amount of force to muscles and joints that theoretically promote normal movement of body fluids and engage the body’s natural healing abilities.

    Doctors of osteopathy have the ability to write prescriptions, order tests and if they choose to, some specialize in surgery or engage in women’s health issues.  For the most part approximately 65% of graduating doctors of osteopathy choose to practice in primary care.

    In a 1999 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine researchers found that people who suffered from chronic lower back pain and were treated by a doctor of osteopathy needed less medication and experienced the same amount of pain reduction and improvement in range of motion as those individuals who received pain medication and physical therapy.

    Treatments with osteopathic manipulative treatment modalities are used for almost anything including chronic conditions like pain, migraines and infection since the treatments can boost the immune system and improve bodily fluid drainage. (1)

    In addition to the manipulative treatments used by osteopaths, they can also include stretching, pressure and cranial osteopathy which focuses on motion in the cranial bones.  All of these modalities involve subtle adjustments to improve the fluid mechanics and overall health of the individual.

    While doctors of osteopathy have the ability to use a wide range of modalities for treatment doctors of chiropractic medicine focus more closely on the motion of the spine.

    When they attend school chiropractors have the ability to go through one of two branches, or schools of thought, and chiropractic medicine.  These branches are differentiated between limited therapeutic approach for aches and pains which is commonly termed a mixed chiropractic or a non-therapeutic approach which is often termed straight chiropractic because there is no mixing of chiropractic medicine with anything else.

    The mixed chiropractic approach is a slightly older one while the non-therapeutic straight chiropractic medicine is the more modern of the two.

    Non-therapeutic chiropractic medicine deals most commonly with the key roles of subluxation.  Because the spine is made up of many different bones segments and the smaller spinal nerve branches come off of the spinal cord and exit between these bones there are times when the spinal segments are out of place and affect nerve messages which exit the spinal cord.

    These misalignments are often called subluxations and results in an interference with messages and, ultimately, the ability of the person to function at their very best.  The objective of a non-therapeutic straight chiropractor is to check the spine or subluxations and safely correct those so that the individual can operate at their optimal potential and the body an attempt to heal itself.

    Which ever medical practitioner you choose for your medical care you should identify and be clear about your particular goal when approaching this practitioner.

    By understanding your needs and your desire for future medical care you can adequately choose between a doctor of osteopathy who may be able to help you with all of your medical concerns versus a chiropractor who may be excellent in helping  a dislocated back.

    (1) New England Journal of Medicine: A Comparison of Osteopathic Spinal Manipulation with Standard Care for Patients with Low Back Pain
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10547405

    RESOURCES

    BioMedCentral MusculoSkeletal Disorders: Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment for Low Back Pain
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1208896/

    Cleveland Clinic:  Low Back Pain

    http://www.clevelandclinicmeded.com/medicalpubs/diseasemanagement/neurology/low-back-pain/

    Cleveland Clinic: Osteopathic Manipulation for Low Back Pain
    http://www.clevelandclinicmeded.com/medicalpubs/diseasemanagement/neurology/low-back-pain/

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