Most people think of osteopathy as a treatment for muscles and joints. But some digestive issues are also within our remit.
Reflux and Osteopathy
Reflux and heartburn are issues where stomach acid burns the bottom of the oesophagus. This is normally prevented by the ring of muscle (sphincter) where the stomach and oesophagus meet. The muscle may be less effective if you:
- are pregnant
- have a connective tissue disorder
- have a hiatus hernia
- are overweight
The sphincter is supported by the diaphragm. The diaphragm mainly works to help the lungs bring air in and let it go as efficiently as possible. But it also contracts around the base of the oesophagus, helping to keep the tube sealed. If the diaphragm is dysfunctional, as it can be when we’re stressed or have other issues with breathing, you might suffer more heartburn.
Fortunately, treating the diaphragm is quite simple. Understanding why it’s misbehaving can be achieved from your case history and examination. Often the muscle responds well to breathing exercises and gentle massage or stretching techniques. Sometimes it might be a good idea to work through the neck, as this is where the nerves that supply the diaphragm come from. Tendons from the muscle reach down to the lower back, so that might be worth treating too.
Our aim with treating the diaphragm in reflux cases is to restore normal function. For even better results, you might like to keep a food diary to identify other factors that make your symptoms worse.
Other Digestive Issues
IBS is another issue patients might seek treatment for. This one can be especially difficult to treat, as it’s considered a functional condition. That means that there are no structural issues on investigation. So we can’t treat one specific issue with IBS, but we can look at you as a whole. Symptoms often flare in times of stress, so we can look to manage the tension you hold in your body. One school of thought suggests that if joint manipulation affects local nerves, maybe treating the spine where the nerves exit en route to the digestive system could give some relief.
When you’re stressed, your body goes into fight or flight. In either scenario, the body diverts blood away from the digestive system and towards the limbs. This would help you to run away or fight. It’s not problematic in itself, but in modern life, it’s not that helpful. We don’t want to be in this state for long periods, and modern stressors encourage a prolonged state of stress. This can cause some of the gastric symptoms we find with IBS, including diarrhoea, constipation, and bloating. Reducing stress levels is easier said than done, but might just help you to get a handle on your symptoms.
In another vein, osteopaths do need to be aware of any digestive issues that may affect you. Some seemingly innocuous aches and pains can actually be signs of issues with the gall bladder, kidneys, and other GI organs. We take a thorough case history to pick up anything you might have going on, but do help us out by mentioning anything that might possibly be relevant.
