It is that time of the year when many of us have patients presenting at our clinics with the common cold. Although they may arrive for a different matter, with the patient's permission, it is a chance for the osteopath to treat some of the less-known conditions that osteopathy addresses.
At the back of the throat sits a ring of lymphoid tissue – the pharynx, the adenoids and the tonsils. They serve as the first line of defense against infections of the mouth and throat. The main virus that causes the common cold is the rhinovirus.
On examining the patient with a cold, the osteopath may find that the posterior pharyngeal muscles are inflamed, the hyoid bone is restricted in movement on one side, the cervical lymph nodes are enlarged, there is restriction in movement of the cervical vertebrae and there is hypertonic cervical-erector-spinae.
The aim of osteopathic treatment is two-fold:
a) To improve fluid drainage to and from the problem area.
b) To boost the immune system.
In conjunction with a general osteopathic treatment, the osteopath should focus on a number of relevant areas. The clavicle and first rib, between which lie the left and right thoracic ducts, must move freely so that drainage from the head and neck is not restricted. The same applies to the thoracic outlet. The diaphragm is also important in intrathoracic pressure and fluid dynamics. Furthermore the osteopath should address sternocleidomastoid (SCM) making sure that it is relaxed and not restricting sound fluid drainage from the throat by either local hypertonia or pinching the thoracic ducts between clavicle and first rib.
To boost the immune system the osteopath can apply the lymphatic pump, splenic and pedal pump.
Local soft tissue work to SCM and articulation with gentle muscle-energy to the pharangeal muscle can be executed in the following way:
With the patient lying supine, the osteopath stands to the side of the patient and clasps the hyoid between two fingers (it is worth explaining to the patient the procedure in advance). Gently, the osteopath articulates the hyoid bone laterally and asks the patient to swallow. The osteopath will feel a gentle tension increase around the hyoid and this produces an effective accurate stretch to the surrounding musculature.
Gentle inhibition can be applied to the sub-occipital muscles and cervical-erector-spinae.
The osteopath can finish with some gentle effleurage around the ears, eyes nose and throat.
The order in which these techniques are used is up for debate but there is some logic in beginning with the peripheral areas first to create pools for the fluid to drain into.
The osteopath may wish to advise the patient to rest and to reduce complex and artificial foods, sticking mainly to boiled vegetables in the first 24 hours.
In conclusion, the osteopath applies skilled hands to knowledge of anatomy and physiology, creating an optimum environment for the body to combat the virus, bringing symptomatic relief, reducing pain and hopefully speeding the recovery.
At the back of the throat sits a ring of lymphoid tissue – the pharynx, the adenoids and the tonsils. They serve as the first line of defense against infections of the mouth and throat. The main virus that causes the common cold is the rhinovirus.
On examining the patient with a cold, the osteopath may find that the posterior pharyngeal muscles are inflamed, the hyoid bone is restricted in movement on one side, the cervical lymph nodes are enlarged, there is restriction in movement of the cervical vertebrae and there is hypertonic cervical-erector-spinae.
The aim of osteopathic treatment is two-fold:
a) To improve fluid drainage to and from the problem area.
b) To boost the immune system.
In conjunction with a general osteopathic treatment, the osteopath should focus on a number of relevant areas. The clavicle and first rib, between which lie the left and right thoracic ducts, must move freely so that drainage from the head and neck is not restricted. The same applies to the thoracic outlet. The diaphragm is also important in intrathoracic pressure and fluid dynamics. Furthermore the osteopath should address sternocleidomastoid (SCM) making sure that it is relaxed and not restricting sound fluid drainage from the throat by either local hypertonia or pinching the thoracic ducts between clavicle and first rib.
To boost the immune system the osteopath can apply the lymphatic pump, splenic and pedal pump.
Local soft tissue work to SCM and articulation with gentle muscle-energy to the pharangeal muscle can be executed in the following way:
With the patient lying supine, the osteopath stands to the side of the patient and clasps the hyoid between two fingers (it is worth explaining to the patient the procedure in advance). Gently, the osteopath articulates the hyoid bone laterally and asks the patient to swallow. The osteopath will feel a gentle tension increase around the hyoid and this produces an effective accurate stretch to the surrounding musculature.
Gentle inhibition can be applied to the sub-occipital muscles and cervical-erector-spinae.
The osteopath can finish with some gentle effleurage around the ears, eyes nose and throat.
The order in which these techniques are used is up for debate but there is some logic in beginning with the peripheral areas first to create pools for the fluid to drain into.
The osteopath may wish to advise the patient to rest and to reduce complex and artificial foods, sticking mainly to boiled vegetables in the first 24 hours.
In conclusion, the osteopath applies skilled hands to knowledge of anatomy and physiology, creating an optimum environment for the body to combat the virus, bringing symptomatic relief, reducing pain and hopefully speeding the recovery.
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