Mar 17, 2023 8:18:04 PM

Osteopathic treatment for Special Needs

Osteopathic treatment for Special Needs - featured image

Its no secret that children and adults with special needs require lots of support for physical, intellectual, emotional, social, language and behavioural development. The Ontario government suggests this support is necessary on their website (in reference below).

More importantly, however, we all know it takes many specialized care programs and people to assist in the successful development of any person of special needs. We are highlighting an effective and integral part of our team – Osteopathic treatment in this blog for you know about the its benefits.

Here at the BODiWORKS Institute, the staff specializes in helping families with the development of their loved ones, through their Adapted Gym Program (AGP) process.

At the BODiWORKS Institute we help families who have children and adults that present with communication delays and disorders, physical disabilities, neurodevelopment disabilities, acquired brain injuries, chronic and/or long-term medical conditions, and specific diagnoses such as Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Global Developmental Delays, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Seizure Disorders, Genetic Deletions and ADHD/ADD, Cerebellar Ataxias and Prader Willi Syndrome. Some children and adults present with multiple conditions that are listed above.lf skills sp needs pic5

Successfully, osteopathic treatment plays a vital role in:

  • Working in conjunction with the Special Needs Instructors (SNI’s) to help children and adults who have these conditions and disabilities.
  • Helping first and foremost to restore the body's symmetry and function by helping move their body into its proper position.
  • Directly helping with the physical disabilities by helping restore range of motion and mobility, and indirectly leading to improved motor skills and the client's overall well-being.
  • Helping release the tight areas of the body, to allow the body to go into its proper and most efficient position.

By helping align the body in its proper position, osteopathic treatment can also indirectly help neurodevelopment disabilities, acquired brain injuries, and chronic conditions; by increasing the likelihood of the improvement of these conditions. In conjunction with the exercises provided by the Special Needs Instructors (SNI), the client's body is kept in the best position for healing and functioning. When the body is kept in this way, the organs, joints and muscles are free to function properly. 

Girl rising her hand - isolated over a white backgroundOther indirect results that can occur with the combination of osteopathic treatments and exercise are improved social development, increased language and speech, Improved sleeping patterns, bowel regularity and decreased aggression frequency and intensity. These are outlined on our previous blog:

https://blog.bodiworksinstitute.com/blog/5-possible-improvements-for-special-needs

For example, for bowel regularity which many people lack, osteopathic techniques can loosen the abdominal and pelvic areas such as releasing the diaphragm, pelvic floor and abdominal muscles to free up the small and large intestines. Osteopathic techniques also consist of working on the organs, such as releasing the small and large intestines to help them function properly, which leads to regular bowel movements. 

Finally, osteopathic techniques have a calming effect and can be gentle and less invasive. These qualities can help special needs clients receive effective treatment and can have a good impact on their well-being such as improved sleeping and movement patterns. These gentle and calming effects, helps the special needs client's body stop guarding or fighting against the treatment. Thus, osteopathic techniques can be very helpful in treating special needs individuals and enhance life!

Reference:

https://www.ontario.ca/page/children-special-needs

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