Paediatric Osteopathy in Hamburg

The first contact with the child's body takes place through the distant perception of its temperature. A change in temperature can already be felt at a distance of a few centimetres. Subsequently, the different tissue levels of skin, connective tissue, organ, muscles or bones are felt through gentle touch. Healthy tissue shows good blood circulation, which is reflected in a characteristic soft quality.

Through the reaction of the tissue to the gentle pressure alone, osteopaths gain a great deal of information about the supply of nutrients to the tissues, the healthy function of the nerves, appropriate purification or drainage via the lymphatic system and the veins. Mobility tests are carried out on joints or fasciae.

Every tissue, bones, organs, muscles should have good mobility, elasticity and self-movement, which osteopaths try to find through their hands. The movement of the tissue itself is also examined. Osteopathy works with several rhythms, not only with heartbeat and respiration. By examining these qualities, osteopaths try to obtain information about the body's self-regulatory forces and possible stresses.

All information from the anamnesis, the inspection, examination and the osteopathic specific touches point the direction in which the subsequent treatment will then lead. The stresses within the family are also essential, as well as possible indications for nutritional suggestions or detoxification therapies.

We know from modern neurology that the thoughts and behaviour of the people around us are reflected in us. In relation to the family, research findings on mirror neurons, for example, explain a generally known fact: children are only as well off as their parents are. If the parents are stressed, the children also become nervous. This already begins in pregnancy and also shows in childhood. A family always forms a unit and is treated as such in osteopathy. This has different consequences for the individual phases in the child's development. Osteopathic child therapists therefore always keep an eye on the condition of the parents.

If blockages are found in the body, an attempt is made to understand whether these are due to falls, scars or illnesses, or due to nutrient deficiencies or emotional reasons. The next step is to identificate individual structures that have restricted mobility or restricted body rhythms. Treatment can then be passive, for example, by moving tissues into a relaxing position to obtain better blood circulation. Or it may require active techniques, such as gentle mobilisation techniques.

It is also important for osteopaths that the disorders can usually originate far away from the regions that show symptoms. For example, an appendicitis scar can cause tension in the cervical spine through fascia, which manifests itself in headaches. Although locally, mobility restrictions of the cranial bones or the neck region could be solved, in the long run it might make more sense to treat the scar as well, if this is possible. The osteopath's hands are guided by the tissue. Osteopaths devote many years to training this sensitivity. Therefore, the experience of an osteopath is essential in order to identify, understand and treat appropriately the many possible relationships.

It is essential for a competent osteopath to have a good knowledge of the individual biological, neurological and psychological developmental stages of a child.

Osteopaths treat, for example, breastfeeding problems, sleeping problems, torticollis, digestive problems, swallowing problems, phonetic disorders, concentration or learning disorders, allergies, recurrent ear infections and much more. It is also essential to be able to assess the limits of osteopathic treatment and to be connected in a good network with other therapists, such as paediatricians, orthopaedists, speech therapists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists.