The Benefits of Osteopathy in Managing Joint Pain
Right now, more than 2.41 billion people worldwide are living with pain associated with musculoskeletal conditions1. In Canada, one in five people2 experience chronic pain3 —chances are, many of your patients are among them.
Pain and patient experience
Pain is defined as “an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with, or resembling that associated with, actual or potential tissue damage.”4 It’s a personal experience that’s influenced to varying degrees by biological, psychological, and social factors. Local factors (like knee osteoarthritis) and systemic conditions (like inflammatory diseases) can influence people’s individual experience of pain—but that isn’t always the case. In many instances, pain isn’t linked to a clear physical cause5. It’s now generally accepted that persistent discomfort often stems from central sensitization, or heightened sensitivity of the nervous system6.
The osteopathic approach
Osteopathy is a popular method of pain management in Quebec, with about 30% of the population having consulted an osteopath before7. The anecdotal evidence is increasingly supported by the literature: a growing body of research now supports its potential for alleviating a wide range of joint pain8.
The osteopathic approach focuses on manual therapy—using the hands to relieve pain, improve mobility, and support overall function. This well-researched treatment has shown promising potential to relieve pain and improve quality of life for those suffering from musculoskeletal conditions, such as chronic back, shoulder, neck, and knee pain9
Osteopathic manual therapy
Osteopathic manual therapy is thought to achieve its positive effects by transmitting physical and emotional information to the nervous system10, similar to a conversation between two people through physical contact. This interaction can elicit various responses in the body, such as modulating pain signals, reducing inflammatory markers, releasing pain-relieving neurotransmitters, stabilizing stress-regulation activity in the autonomic nervous system, and reorganizing the somatosensory system (improving proprioception)11. However, it’s also known that the effects of manual therapy can vary greatly between individuals and are influenced by personal beliefs and expectations12. When combined with education and healthy lifestyle habits, manual therapy can be effective in reducing pain, particularly joint pain13.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the benefits experienced after an osteopathic session can be attributed to a combination of specific factors related to osteopathic techniques and non-specific factors associated with the broader therapeutic process. It’s important to note that osteopathy is not meant to replace the care provided by a doctor or other health care professionals but rather to complement it as part of a multidisciplinary approach.
This article provides general information only and does not replace the recommendations or care of a healthcare professional. The effect of the products presented in this text may vary from one person to another; some of them may be contraindicated for you and may interact with your medication if you are taking it. If you are being monitored for a health problem, consult a health professional before including them in your diet.
Références :
[1]Cieza, Alarcos et al., Global estimates of the need for rehabilitation based on the Global Burden of Disease study 2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019, The Lancet, Volume 396, Issue 10267, 2006 - 2017.
[2] Health Canada, Chronic Pain in Canada: Laying a Foundation for Action. Canadian Pain Task Force Report: June 2019.
[3] *According to the WHO, chronic pain is pain that persists for more than 3 months.
[4] International Association for the Study of Pain, revised definition of pain, 2020, https://www.iasp-pain.org/publications/iasp-news/iasp-announces-revised-definition-of-pain/
[5] Fitzcharles MA, Cohen SP, Clauw DJ, Littlejohn G, Usui C, Häuser W. Chronic primary musculoskeletal pain: a new concept of nonstructural regional pain. Pain Rep. 2022 Aug 9;7(5):e1024. doi: 10.1097/PR9.0000000000001024. PMID: 35975135; PMCID: PMC9371480.
[6] For example, in chronic primary pain or fibromyalgia.
[7] Léger Poll, 2023
[8] Dal Farra F, Risio RG, Vismara L, Bergna A. Effectiveness of osteopathic interventions in chronic non-specific low back pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Complement Ther Med. 2021 Jan;56:102616. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102616. Epub 2020 Nov 13. PMID: 33197571.
[9] Bokarius AV, Bokarius V. Evidence-based review of manual therapy efficacy in treatment of chronic musculoskeletal pain. Pain Pract. 2010 Sep-Oct;10(5):451-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1533-2500.2010.00377.x. PMID: 20412502.
[10] Bialosky JE, Bishop MD, Price DD, Robinson ME, George SZ. The mechanisms of manual therapy in the treatment of musculoskeletal pain: a comprehensive model. Man Ther. 2009 Oct;14(5):531-8. doi: 10.1016/j.math.2008.09.001. Epub 2008 Nov 21. PMID: 19027342; PMCID: PMC2775050.
[11] Geri T, Viceconti A, Minacci M, Testa M, Rossettini G. Manual therapy: Exploiting the role of human touch. Musculoskelet Sci Pract. 2019 Dec;44:102044. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2019.07.008. Epub 2019 Jul 25. PMID: 31358458.
[12] Baird A, Sheffield D. The Relationship between Pain Beliefs and Physical and Mental Health Outcome Measures in Chronic Low Back Pain: Direct and Indirect Effects. Healthcare (Basel). 2016 Aug 19;4(3):58. doi: 10.3390/healthcare4030058. PMID: 27548244; PMCID: PMC5041059.
[13] Joypaul S, Kelly F, McMillan SS, King MA. Multi-disciplinary interventions for chronic pain involving education: A systematic review. PLoS One. 2019 Oct 2;14(10):e0223306. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0223306. PMID: 31577827; PMCID: PMC6774525./span>