Multiple Sclerosis? cranial osteopathy can relieve your symptoms!
What is cranial osteopathy?
Generally, osteopathy is an allied health care profession in the UK. Cranial osteopathy is a branch of osteopathy which follows the same principles as osteopathy which are to help people manage pain and improve the quality of life. The difference is that cranial osteopaths use different techniques to achieve the desirable outcome. It is suggested that cranial osteopaths have a very well-developed touch which allows them to achieve an objective without having to move their hands too much, but merely feeling and altering the movement of tissues and fluids.
What is multiple sclerosis?
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a lifelong condition which affects your nerves in the brain and body. It occurs when the immune system of the body, which is responsible for fighting various infections and diseases, mistakes nerves for an invader and starts attacking them. It is still unclear why this is happening, but it can be correlated to genetics and environmental factors.
What are the symptoms of multiple sclerosis?
Most common symptoms of MS are tiredness, loss of balance or difficulty walking and vision problems. Symptoms may also include:
- Numbness and tingling in some body parts.
- Pain.
- Having difficulty thinking, planning, or learning new things.
- Muscle spasms, weakness, or stiffness.
- Depression and anxiety.
- Sexual issues.
- Bowel issues.
- Bladder issues.
- Difficulty to speak and swallow.
Who is mainly affected by multiple sclerosis?
MS can affect anyone at any age. However, it has been observed that MS affects adults in their 20’s, 30’s and 40’s the most and it is a number 1 disability in younger adults. Moreover, MS affects 2 – 3 times more women than men. It is thought that women are more prevalent to develop the MS because of differences in adipose tissue levels and hormones in comparison to males.
What to expect during cranial osteopathy treatment?
During the appointment your osteopath will ask you several questions regarding your presentation. This will help him/her to understand your complaint better and determine if cranial osteopathy is a safe treatment for you. Then, most likely you will be laid on your back and your osteopath will massage/treat your head and spine with a very gentle and refined touch to help your body relax as much as possible.
How can cranial osteopathy help to manage multiple sclerosis?
Firstly, it is unclear if cranial osteopathy can help patients with MS because currently there is very little to no evidence to suggest that. There was a study in 2009 which was assessing cranial osteopathy effectiveness for people diagnosed with MS and lower urinary tract signs and symptoms. This study suggests that cranial osteopathy is effective in improving the quality of life and managing symptoms for this specific group of people. However, because MS can cause many different symptoms, we would recommend you to try cranial osteopathy and observe if it helps you to manage the condition better because no two people are experiencing the same MS symptoms and no two people respond to the cranial osteopathic treatment in the same way.
Do you know someone dealing with multiple sclerosis?
For further information or contact an osteopath visit: https://www.osteopathy.org.uk/home/
We hope this information is useful for you. If you need advice or have any questions about our treatments, please contact us. You can find us in Mill Hill Broadway and Islington. We are always happy to help. If you like this blog, please share!
References:
https://marcellovitacolonna.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/SEPUrinaireCranio2009.pdf
