For many people today joint and muscular aches and pains are seen as something we have to put up with. They may visit their local physical therapist to relieve their symptoms, but will return months or even weeks later for the same reason. Through his 11 years of treating such people Dominick has found that just massaging and manipulating joints and muscles is not enough to ensure long term relief, in fact over manipulating someone’s joints can cause long term damage.
The answer is to look at the cause rather than treat the symptoms (aches and pains).
Aches and pains are your body’s way of telling you that it is in distress, similar to a hazard light flashing on your car’s dash board. Your body’s defence mechanism or immune system is over loaded with stresses which can be put into the following categories:
Physical stresses:
Over exercising, repetitive movements (e.g. typing), sitting and or standing incorrectly over long period.
Physiological stresses:
Smoking, Alcohol, Processed food, Caffeine, Pesticides, Food Additives, Colours and Preservatives, Chemicals in personal care products, Chlorinated water, Fluoride, Meats containing Antibiotics and Hormones, Food intolerances, etc.
Emotional stresses:
Demanding Job, Difficult home life, Financial worries, Wrong relationship.
By identifying and finding ways to counter these stresses, you can be well along the way to achieving long term relief from your symptoms.
What can you expect when you visit Dominick?
On your first visit Dominick will take a comprehensive case history to establish your presenting symptoms and possible causes. You will then be given a physical examination which will help confirm or rule out these possible causes.
The physical exam will include asking you to do various movements, clinical testing, palpation of muscles and joints, and testing the resistance of various muscles using the principles of Applied Kinesiology (AK). You may also be referred for further investigations such as x-rays or scans when appropriate. When he has assessed all the results he will give you his diagnosis and advise you on your best treatment options. At this stage you will be advised whether osteopathic treatment will help you. On your initial visit treatment will mainly be aimed at resolving any acute symptoms and usually involves a combination of massage and gentle spinal manipulation.
After 2 to 4 sessions, including the initial visit, a deeper analysis can be carried out to determine how you can achieve long term relief. This involves identifying and lessening or removing the main stresses on your body as highlighted above, and strengthening your immune system. When developing a longer term treatment plan Dominick may include different elements of Bach Flower Therapy, Homeopathy, Lifestyle Advice, Magnetic Therapy, Massage, NAET Allergy Testing and Treatment, Naturopathy, Nutritional Therapy, and Osteopathy.
What conditions can be helped by Osteopathy?
Arthritis, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Frozen Shoulder, Headaches, Jaw problems, Lower back pain, Lumbago, Migraines, Muscular, strains and tears, Neck pain, Repetitive strain injuries, Sciatica, Scoliosis, Sinus problems, Slipped Disc, Sports Injuries, Tendonitis, Trapped nerves, Whiplash.
Do I need a referral from my doctor?
A formal referral from your doctor is not necessary. Most patients self refer.
Can I be sure I'm in safe hands?
At present Osteopathy is not a government regulated profession in Ontario. The Ontario Association of Osteopaths, of which Dominick is an affiliate member, seeks to promote the profession and is working with the Ontario government to have it regulated under law.
In the UK the profession is strictly regulated by General Osteopathic Council (GOC) under Osteopaths Act of Parliament (1993). As a registered member of GOC in the United Kingdom, Dominick has demonstrated, via a detailed application and assessment process that he is a safe and competent practitioner. His continued membership of the GOC is dependent on completion of a minimum amount of hours per year post graduate training to refresh and update his Osteopathic skills. He also has to have adequate malpractice insurance and has agreed to abide by a Code of Practice.
