VISITING an osteopath for Jim McMillan is what he says is a strategy to keep him moving and healthy, particularly as he builds his house from scratch.
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Ballarat's Mr McMillan, who is not a builder by trade, has developed niggling elbow and arm issues the past 15 months as his house has taken shape.
His treatment is from one of the fastest-growing health professions in Australia which, despite this, there is still general misunderstanding for what osteopaths can do. This Osteopathy Awareness Week, clinicians and passionate patients are aiming to change this.
Mr McMillan has been seeing an osteopath for 13 years, back to when he was living in Brisbane and said it was the holistic approach to his treatment that he appreciated most. He will visit an osteopath for any flare-ups or niggles to stay on track.
"I'm pretty active and was first getting treated by other health professionals for my knees until I went to an osteopath. I like that osteopaths look at the muscles and body to work with you," Mr McMillan said.
"Osteopathy is like a strategy. Everything is connected."
Osteopaths are allied health professionals who focus on how the body's skeleton, joints, muscles, nerves, circulation, connective tissue and internal organs function together.
They use a range of treatment approaches from manual therapy like manipulation, massage and stretching to exercise therapy, lifestyle advice and patient education and are trained to perform standard examinations on musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, respiratory and nervous systems.
Eureka Osteo co-director Megan May said osteopaths support the body healing itself with hands-on treatment and tools to help speed-up the process and get you back on track.
Michelle Callahan, who like Mr McMillan is a patient at Eureka Osteo, said osteopathy is what helps keep her running and swimming.
Ms Callahan is preparing for a 14-kilometre run in next month's Great Ocean Road Running Festival. She has been seeking treatment for an ankle injury that she does not want to derail her training.
"It's about knowing when to train and when to stop and rest," Ms Callahan said. "I see an osteopath because it's about looking after your whole body, not just a section like your ankle...Treatment and a plan is helping me to keep training without my ankle getting worse. They have awesome tools to help make sure I will be right for the event."
- For more details about osteopathy, visit Osteopathy Australia online here.
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