**Osteopathy is covered by all major Ontario extended health benefit plans.**
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Bringing a baby into this world is a different experience for every person. Whether that process was natural and magical or a sudden surgery and not at all what was expected, the body has had some huge forces placed upon it.  If corrected soon after the birth process, these corrections can have positive long reaching effects.

During pregnancy your body releases the hormone relaxin, causing the ligaments to relax, allowing the bones of the pelvis to shift every so slightly preparing your body for delivery. This increased mobility and laxity can cause back pain during pregnancy and can continue afterwards if this shift is not corrected. These changes can become much harder to remove if left too long after delivery as relaxin will not be released for an extended length after the pregnancy concludes.  The ligaments then tighten, holding the bones firmly in their altered location. This can result in intermittent to constant lower back pain.  

During the babies travel down the birth canal, they pass right in front of the mother’s sacrum.  In some cases, either due to failure to progress, or other difficulties, the sacrum can be “dragged” downward toward the mother’s feet.  Because there is an anatomical connection (via the dura) with the cranium (the head), this can cause headaches or neck tension/pain during or after the delivery. This can also be positively influenced with an osteopathic treatment.

Osteopathy can benefit all mothers after pregnancy and delivery and is very supportive in helping the body recover and restore after a great time of change.

All aspects of post partum including C-section scars, post partum depression, aches and pains that were not there prior to pregnancy…can benefit from Osteopathic care.

​​My goal is for you to feel comfortable and relaxed when you arrive for your treatment. Here is what you can expect for your first visit:

The initial appointment is approx. 50 minutes. It includes a thorough, confidential health history, an assessment, and treatment. Please bring or wear comfortable non-restrictive clothing to allow free range of motion.

Palpation, observation, and motion testing will be used in order to find asymmetries, restrictions in motion, tissue tension, and/or sensorial changes within the body. ​The assessment and treatment incorporate the whole-body head to toe, as all parts function together in an integrated system.

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The treatment is gentle and should feel relaxing. The body is gently manipulated to free up the restricted areas impeding the vital forces of the body (nerves, arteries, veins, lymphatics) providing overall balance to the structure.

Osteopathic manual therapists use levers and fulcrums to softly free up tight tissues and restricted joints. As structure and function are inter-related, the mechanical treatment has a neurophysiological effect, allowing the body to function more efficiently.

Follow up treatments are 40 minutes in length:

Treatment plans are based on individual health needs and on the body’s ability to heal, with improvement typically after 3-5 treatments. In more serious or chronic cases, a longer treatment plan may be necessary.

The end goal for each patient varies depending on the individual. An Osteopathic treatment aims to fix the root of the problem, opposed to temporary relief and frequent visits. We are working with natural law, and with the body, rather than against it to facilitate the healing process. This could mean more energy, better sleep, less pain, improved digestion, and a higher quality of life among many other potential positive effects. As Osteopathy treats the individual, each case is unique and may be preventative, curative, or palliative depending on the nature of the condition.

​Ultimately, Osteopathy aims to optimize the self-healing mechanisms of the body, helping you be your best!