Did you know that osteopathy can help with digestive pain? It’s true! Poor blood supply, injury or strain on the muscles or bones around the digestive system can all lead to pain or discomfort. In this blog post, we will discuss how osteopathy can help with digestive pain and other symptoms.
Osteopathic treatment for digestive pain focuses on rebalancing the muscles, joints, and tissues around the digestive organs. This balance thus restores the movement of those organs and enhances blood and nerve supply. This non-invasive, drug-free treatment will ease digestive problems by incorporating specialist massaging and stretching techniques.
The link between the nervous system and the gut
Osteopaths understand the connection of the nerve supply to the diaphragm and bowel. Given this understanding, they assess that many cases of reflux (also called heartburn, or indigestion) are the result of a structural problem affecting the diaphragm. This is the dome-shaped muscular sheet which the oesophagus passes to reach the stomach.
Problems with the diaphragm might be due to a neck problem affecting the nerve supply to the muscle, or through changes in the mobility of the spine and ribs around the attachments of the diaphragm itself, which affects how easily food can pass through the opening to the stomach.
In addition, bowel motility (the speed with which food passes through the gut) is influenced by the autonomic nervous system. The nerve supply for this comes from several areas. The Vagus nerve originates from within the brain, passing down the sides of the neck and through the chest to the abdomen. Other nerves pass directly out of the thoracic area of the spine, or from the sacrum, to affect the bowel. Osteopaths assess mobility in these areas to assess how these nerves affect the gut.
The link between connective tissue and the digestive system
The connection between the digestive system and other organs is made through ligaments and fascia. These tissues act as a bridge that connects the organs to the diaphragm and abdominal wall, along with the spine, ribs, and pelvis.
It follows that undue tension and stress in these tissues will affect the ability of your gut to function well.
What can I expect at my appointment?
In treating the troubled digestive system, our osteopaths will take a full history of your complaint, along with assessing your medical history and lifestyle factors that contribute to flare-ups of pain and discomfort. Each of our osteopaths can work alongside your GP, where appropriate.
Techniques our ostepaths use to relieve digestive pain and discomfort include:
- Organ or joint manipulation
- Stretching
- Massaging
- Articulation of joints
- Strengthening the ligaments and muscles
- Reducing the irritation of nerves
At our Staines clinic, principal osteopath Radhika Madahar  has the skills to help! Contact us today if you suffer from digestive pain or discomfort, including reflux (or GERD), constipation or Irritable Bowel Disease. Our osteopaths are fully trained to assess the root cause of your pain, and treat it to give you lasting relief from digestive problems.
