Introduction
Alternative or Manipulative therapy has been used since 400 BC. Modern medicine that using surgery and drug therapy have many disadvantages. These include Post-surgery pain, side-effects and high costs. Over the decades, alternative therapy has been a useful for treating osteoporosis and other musculoskeletal disorders. Of the different alternative interventions for musculoskeletal disorders, osteopathy and chiropractic systems have been widely used around the globe. Since traditional allopathic medications had many drawbacks, physicians recommend patients to undergo alternative or manipulative therapy.
The Decline of Allopathic Medicine
Allopathic medicine was the only intervention for the treatment of ‘bone setting’ in the early 19th century. No alternative or secondary methods were used for the treatment of arthritis, osteoporosis etc. However this paper would enlighten us on how allopathic interventions began to decline due to many shortcomings. Allopathic medicine was first introduced in North America during the 19th century. There was a great demand for allopathic or modern medicine for patient care, especially in bone diseases. There was rapid change in medicine and medicinal investigations. The only policy that could have been followed was the risk and benefit ratio. Interventions used should cause no harm in any manner to patients and provide benefits to a considerable level. Going back to history, America’s most prominent physician, Benjamin Rush that the treatment for fever could be done using phlebotomy. Different approaches using modern allopathic medicine for bone setting were being used at that time. The example of B. Rush was lauded in the Americas and Europe because of his modernistic technique and excellence in treatment intervention. Allopathic medication and interventions would provide maximum benefits to patients in most outcomes. The old theory of sickness and imbalances in bodily fluids was discouraged because of new modern interventions.
Although, the profession of modern medicine was termed as the ‘withered arm of science.’ According to Hippocrates, physicians who practiced modern medicine along with mathematics to study observations and imply possible interventions were discouraged. Many scientific disciplines like Physics, chemistry, mathematics, and other disciplines were to support modern medical profession. Modern techniques for treatment of musculoskeletal disorders in humans was in great demand. But before the outbreak of such techniques, North America saw a downfall of modern intervention. High risk and low benefit was often seen in physicians and surgeons who practiced modern interventions.
Advances in surgical techniques were seen due to the brutal experience seen in the American war of 1861. The lack of sterilization techniques seen in surgical techniques led to higher mortality rates of soldiers during the war. The theory of germs and disease by Louis Pasteur came into picture later in 1865. Could have this been found, many soldiers would have survived. The lack of sophisticated surgical techniques was the primary cause of modern interventions in surgical treatments.
Osteopathy
Osteopathy was founded by Dr Andrew Still and he quoted that only a dead individual would benefit from osteopathy. However, he was completely biased on his statement. It is a known fact that osteopathy is long range intervention with guaranteed health benefits. There are many benefits of osteopathy over modern medicine and surgical techniques.
Curing Pain
An osteopath would consider the body as a whole in the treatment of pain. Osteopaths are trained to deal with patient care for the whole body in treatment intervention. It is widely used as an alternative to surgery or drug interventions to reduce and curer pain. Pain in the body is not restricted to a single area, osteopathy heals the body completely. Osteopathy reduces and cures pain to a considerable extent as seen in other modern interventions. A sever back pain in an individual could be cured from a single visit to an osteopath.
Reduction of discomfort from Chronic Illness
Chronic illnesses prevent an individual from carrying out daily activities. Symptoms that accompany chronic illness could decrease quality of life in patients. Common examples of chronic illness include asthma and arthritis. An osteopath could treat symptoms that accompany such diseases. Pertaining to the type and alleviation of the symptom, an osteopath is capable of reducing it to a great extent. Osteopathy is not only meant for musculoskeletal disorders but also for other chronic ailments. 90% of individuals who underwent osteopathy showed a healing and curing effect.
Osteopathy and Prevention
Reoccurrence of an injury or bone displacement is most musculoskeletal disorders is common. Osteopathy can be implied to prevent the occurrence of such problems. A classic example illustrating the use of osteopathy in prevention is that of bone setting or knee pain. An osteopath would strengthen and retain the mobility of the joint in such a manner that bone displacement or knee pain would be avoided. Osteopathy could prevent knew pain or bone displacement in the future. Modern medication or drug interventions have side-effects. The chances of reoccurrence of the issue is high in such cases. On the other hand, osteopathy has no side-effects and chances of reoccurrence is low.
Back pain and reoccurrence is common in the elderly. Osteopathy could provide full-proof treatment along with minimal reoccurrence. Osteopathy heals the body as a whole and pain is reduced to a great extent.
Relaxation and Osteopathy
Osteopathy is said to have added benefits. It helps the body to heal to a different tune. An individual would give in time and thought for the body during osteopathy. In conventional surgical methods, pain and discomfort are often observed in patients. In drug interventions, side-effects like fatigue and stress are often seen. On the other hand, osteopathy does not have any kind of side-effects. Patients have a relaxing and soothing effect after osteopathic interventions. Bone setting may include pain and discomfort in the operated area. Osteopathy uses the science of traditional massage and acupuncture. This would relieve pain from the prevailing health problem. Relaxation and comfort are the two key factors that individuals prefer osteopathy over modern interventions.
Chiropractic Therapy
Individuals with chronic or acute pain seek an alternative or complementary healing intervention. Chiropractic therapy is one such alternative that many patients prefer over traditional intervention. Pain in a body part would be a primary complaint of a patient who visiting a chiropractor. A chiropractor would relieve pain in the individual as a whole body. Chiropractic therapy includes healing of the whole body rather than a single area of the body. Best results from chiropractic therapy can be achieved when both patient and healer co-operate with each other. Optimal health and wellness is observed in partnership of the chiropractor and patient. The benefits of chiropractic therapy are mentioned below.
Whole Body Healing
Different factors like nutrition, exercise, sleep etc. are kept in mind by chiropractors during the healing process. The main difference between chiropractic therapy and surgical intervention is that chiropractic therapy involves healing of the body naturally while surgical methods involve direct symptom treatment. Chiropractic therapy involves a natural way of healing and enhancing the body’s ability to resist disease.
Thorough evaluation
Prior to therapy, a chiropractic would evaluate the patient thoroughly. This are often termed as time-honored techniques. Evaluation includes case history, lab analysis, physical examination etc. After thorough evaluation of reports and case history, a chiropractor would begin therapy. This practice ensures the patient receives an accurate and precise therapeutic effect.
No drugs and No Surgery
The major advantage of chiropractic therapy is absence of drugs or surgery. This would minimize the risk of side-effects and discomfort in patients. Chiropractic therapy uses a broad range of techniques that is helpful in the healing process. Electrical muscular simulators, massage or ultrasound are some techniques used by a chiropractor these days. These techniques have no side-effects reported till date. Natural healing of the body and increased muscular communication are two key aspects chiropractic therapy uses. It helps in initiating and improving coordination in the body. Decreases pain and improves bodily movements to a greater extent.
Chiropractors are often referred by other health care professionals. Surgeons and physicians recommend their patients to visit a chiropractor after a surgery or drug intervention. Health care professionals from other allied branches of medicine often seek help from a chiropractor. This concludes that alternative methods like osteopathy and chiropractic therapy are more beneficial for patient care. Increase in quality of life and health benefits is seen more in alternative methods than in traditional interventions.
References
Pettman E. A history of manipulative therapy. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2007;15 (3):165–74. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2565620/#!po=80.4348>
Aiken A, McColl MA. Diagnostic and treatment concordance between a physiotherapist and an orthopedic surgeon-A pilot study. J Interprof Care. 2008;14(3):253–261 <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18569412>
