Osteopathy – A New Perspective

Earlier this month, I boarded a plane to Berlin to attend the German School of Osteopathy’s annual conference. The theme was “Osteopathy in Paediatrics”. In the past year, more of my client base has been children and babies (which I love!). This was an exciting way to deepen my knowledge and learn from osteopaths with decades of experience, in a group of professionals with passions similar to my own.

Incredibly experienced osteopaths from all over the world gathered to learn in a series of lectures and small group workshops. I was so excited (and, admittedly, nervous) as I entered the auditorium at the Urania Berlin Conference Centre and sat down to enjoy lectures. Subjects included “Pre and Postnatal Influences on the Child”, “A Case Presentation of the Osteopathic Journey of a Child with Congenital Heart Disease”, “Therapeutic Treatment Approaches for Traumatized Children”, “Consent of Children and Osteopathy”, and “The Osteopath’s Role in Cranial Facial Asymmetries, Plagiocephaly and Torticollis”. My brain was abuzz as I took in new information, and new perspectives & approaches to treating infants and children.

The next two days consisted of four workshops from Canadian, British, and French osteopaths. The workshops focused completely on treating babies who are experiencing digestive troubles, difficulty feeding, and delayed physical milestones (such as sitting, four-point crawling, and tip-toe walking).

Over the course of the conference, I learned so much about how babies’ nervous systems develop and how my hands-on work can help soothe an overwhelmed and unsettled baby. 

Many parents are surprised to learn that osteopathy is a safe, gentle, and effective option for children of all ages. Babies and children come into my office for a multitude of reasons. My treatments typically focus on the child’s mobility (e.g., is there neck, shoulder, or hip tension?) as well as the quality of movement (yes there is neck, arms, and leg movements, but not always the full range of motion we hope to see). The treatments also focus on the child’s overall wellbeing (e.g., How are they eating? How are they sleeping? How are they pooping?). I learned new ways to observe a child’s movement patterns and body tension, as well as new osteopathic techniques. This will help create a more effective treatment plan.

One of my biggest takeaways from the conference was the importance of collaborative care. This reinforced my commitment to working with lactation consultants, midwives, primary care practitioners, chiropractors, and physiotherapists. I am focusing even more on building these connections so that parents can feel supported in their journey by an entire team.