Manual osteopathic treatment is a procedure that uses refine hands-on skills for treating ailments of the physical body. It is a controlled method aiming to decrease pain and improve function of the affected area. In order to attain the desired results the Osteopath will look to find the source of the problem while following the principles of the profession. The use of various techniques will be chosen to fit your needs.

Osteopathic treatment is beneficial for people of all ages and any body types because it can be modified for individual needs of the person looking for a relief from pain and aches. Practitioners of Health Spectrum are following the central message of Osteopathy which advocates finding health regardless of person’s age or dysfunction. Osteopathic treatment is suitable for everyone because Osteopathy works to improve function, and therefore health. Improved function is leading to improvement of vitality through the promotion of fluid exchange, oxygenation and nutrition.

The event of birth itself poses some risks for the infant as well as for the mother. Osteopathic approach can be very beneficial to alleviate pain and discomfort associated with the delivery for the mother and assists the infant to recover from the first challenging journey into this world.

Osteopathy is often a treatment of choice for the women throughout their pregnancy and in the post-partum period. Osteopathic manual treatment can ease pain caused by physiological changes to women’s body. It can alleviate various discomforts caused by digestive issues such as nausea, vomiting, or constipation. Osteopathic treatment can also help with general fatigue or lethargy. It can enhance the well being of the mother and the baby.

For athletes practicing any kind of sports either intensely or occasionally, Osteopathy can enhance performance, prevent recurrence of trauma and assist in healing by addressing the cause of injury.

Most adults during their life time will experience some functional disorders because of habits and lack of movement. Increased sedentary life style, lack of exercise and sitting in a job are contributing factors for postural deformities and restrictions in joints and fascia. Osteopathic manual treatment can bring about change of this inertia and jump- start more healthy functional life style.

Osteopathic manual treatments are also suitable for elders because it offers a drug-free release of pain, while eases the physical wear and tear, improve mobility, reduce inflammation and enhance quality of life.

The most important element allowing us to exist in the physical universe is the integration of all the systems of our body. Structure and function will always overlap, but it is a function/mobility which is the expression of health. Perfectly aligned body does not necessary imply health. The mobility of the human structure is the foundation of vitality and health. Our approach is about integration of all the systems of the human body into one functional unit.

Below is an example which shows the interconnectivity of a physical body.

e). Influence of visceral tension on the bio-mechanical system

If utero-sacral ligament is over tight  it will block the sacro-iliac joint , which in turn will affect the walking pattern and posture causing sluggish fluid exchange, resulting in circulatory stasis, which can contribute or cause cysts formation and/or a painful menstruation.

Osteopathic treatment is effective for a variety of health conditions because it can facilitate healing in many ways:

• Alleviate pain
• Improve range of motion of the joints
• Improve circulation
• Improve lymphatic drainage
• Improve function of the diaphragm (breathing +)
• Increase general mobility and function
• Promote tissue healing and repair
• Improve the vitality of the tissue
• Help with asthma and breathing disorders
• Decongest Sinuses
• Ease migraines and headaches
• Relief carpal tunnel syndrome
• Alleviate menstrual pain
• Aid with post-surgery healing

The interaction between different levels of our health is interchangeable and interpenetrating. Any physical issue will correspond with our emotional, mental or spiritual aspect of life. Emotions will impact physical body and spirit and spiritual issues will reflect on the health of physical body and mind. All aspects of your Self are interconnected with each other and are interdependent.  Physical, emotional, metal and spiritual Self create oneness and health is a manifestation of all aspects of the Self.

We can help you with many conditions which impede your health. Below is the partial list of most commonly treated issues. If you have a condition which is not listed here, please call us with your question.

• Back and Neck pain
• Shoulder and Hip pain
• Ankle injuries
• Tennis elbow
• Muscular aches, pains and spasms
• Fibromyalgia
• Joints stiffness
• Postural and habitual restrictions
• Occupational strain and sprain
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Scoliosis
• Whiplash Injuries
• TMJ dysfunction
• Headache
• Bell Palsy
• Vertigo, Balance problems
• Otitis media (Ear infection, painful inflammation of the middle ear that can cause dizziness and temporary hearing loss)
• Repetitive Strain Syndrome
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Sports Injuries
• Head Trauma affecting sight, hearing, taste, and cognition
• Post-traumatic disorders
• Car accidents injuries
• Recovery after surgery
• Chest pain and restriction associated with breathing disorders: Asthma,
• COPD,(Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease),Respiratory Tract  Infection
• Back pain associated with pregnancy
• Menstrual problems
• Digestive disorders
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Depression

In general terms we can help you with Neurological Dysfunctions, Urological Conditions, Gynecological Conditions, Cardiovascular Conditions, Pulmonary Conditions, Digestive Problems, Swallowing Difficulties, Headaches, Migraines, Dizziness, and Bed Wetting.

Over the many years of our practice we have learned an array of natural healing methods which proof to be effective in maintaining and improving health. We are offering services in Osteopathy, Physiotherapy and Massage Therapy to help you to manage your physical body. We insist on your active participation in your own well-being. We are partners in health and not the mechanics that can fix your body, therefore we can teach you to enhance, integrate and restore your health. Our experience and knowledge is our contribution to the process of rejuvenating your own health, but your participation in a treatment is fundamental to healthy changes of your life style.

Our knowledge and experience extends to a non-physical domain of health. We are train to provide consultations and advice in this particular area of health. We believe that the optimal health must include physical body, emotional balance, mental coherence and spiritual integrity.

You can book an appointment and explore how emotional, mental and spiritual experiences are intertwined with your physical body and if you decide to venture this non-physical (spiritual, mental and emotional) portion of your existence, give us a call and we will schedule a block of time for this service.

You can go to Archetypal Consultation on this website under the Services tab.

On your first visit we will take your health history, ask about your symptoms and injury, discus the reason for your visit and perform a physical assessment to establish a pattern of restrictions and impact of your habits or injury on your body. In order to complete our assessment we need to evaluate the mobility of your joints, the tension of your muscles, the feature of your soft tissue, the mobility of your organs, the movement of the sutures of the cranium, the way you breathe, your posture and balance, and the way you walk. To do that we will look at your body, we will ask you to walk and do some other simple movements. We will also put our hands on your body to palpate tension and restrictions to find out what causes pain and aches and impede your health. In general terms, we will evaluate the functionality of your body, your habitual posture and the pattern of compensations contributing to your aches and pains. On the completion of our assessment we will discuss the findings and recommend an optimal approach for your specific health issues. If you are satisfied with our explanation we can proceed to treat you with your permission. Our treatment can help you to release some chronic issues which your body has endured for a long time.

You will need to fill in the health history form at the clinic, submit in advance or bring with you to the first appointment. Forms are available under the FAQ on this website.

The best recommendation that we can offer to you is after your first visit in our clinic. We have to establish if you need a treatment for an acute or chronic issues or your interest is in a prevention phase of health. Subsequently we will be able to focus on your individual needs and together decide about the optimal course of action for you.

The frequency of your visits will depend on the length of time that you were living with the dysfunction in your body. Generally, if your condition persisted for a year of time, you will need a month of time to recover and eliminate sing and symptoms from your body, attending treatments once or twice week. We will be able to give you a more appropriate suggestion for the frequency of your visits after you have three to four treatments with us. This is just an average time for your body to respond to our treatments. You need to be an active participant of the healing process and follow our recommendation on a daily basis.

Our clinical experience says that the best choice for chronic conditions is to see us once a week for a month and than once a month to maintain and improve your mobility. In our opinion, preventative interventions are essential for managing longstanding aches, pains and stiffness.

For acute pain it is advisable to receive two to three treatments sessions per week for about four weeks and then decrease the frequency of treatments with improvement. The body is your best guide but it needs some assistance in the process of recovery and maintenance, therefore once the acute condition is over, it is wise to follow up with maintenance program. Health is of a dynamic nature and it is to your advantage to provide your body with optimal conditions for living.

The nature of manual techniques that we provide is different than active exercises, so it is unlikely that you can over do with treatments or get injured in a process. Your response to a treatment is unique to you and should be considered in a decision about the frequency of treatments. It is wise to “breathe in” the subtle changes gained in a treatment session and integrate them within the new physical-emotional-mental-spiritual paradigm. Your body needs a physical time for this integration. Spacing your appointments is sensible.

There are many factors contributing to the frequency and the length of manual treatment. First of all, we have to look into your needs and consider the severity of the symptoms and the time that has elapsed since the onset of the symptoms. Additionally we also have to look how you are doing in between the treatments, and your ability to attend treatments sessions.

In our clinic the first visit is 90 minutes long and the follow up visits are one hour long. This is the optimal solution to get the best results from the treatment session and time saving arrangements of the following up appointments. Therefore, on the first visit in our clinic you will receive the full hands-on treatment. The response to the first treatment may indicate how you will respond to the course of treatments. All of our patients up to date reported significant improvement after the first visit.

The coverage for health care services varies from province to province and it depends on your individual insurance plans. You may check if the services of Physiotherapy, Osteopathy and Massage Therapy are included in your extended health plans, workers’ compensation or auto insurance coverage. Osteopathic treatments, Physiotherapy treatments and Massage Therapy treatments are covered by most major insurance companies, but not by OHIP. Upon payment, you will receive a receipt for services rendered, which you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement. Please check your individual policy for details.

Manual osteopathic treatment is non-invasive, gentle procedure of neuro-musculo-skeletal system as well as visceral and cranial system. Osteopathic profession is guided by principles that if followed minimize probable adverse effects of osteopathic treatment. No health treatment is completely free of potential unpleasant effects; however, the risks associated with manual osteopathy are very small .During the treatment time we feel the response of your tissue and we do not exceed the level of discomfort because we listen to the feedback from you and from your body.

Your response to the treatment will depend on the severity of symptoms and the length of time that you have endured in your condition. Many patients feel immediate relief following manual osteopathic treatment, some may experience mild soreness, slight headache or sleepiness, while others may feel very energetic and vigorous. Those reactions are due to the readjustment of the release of the tension that existed in the body for a long time. Following osteopathic treatment the body is rebalancing the internal clock and that minor discomfort, fatigue or soreness usually fades within 24 hours.

You do not need a doctor referral to see us but you may need a prescription for the services we provide in order to use your benefits. Some insurance company needs a recommendation from your doctor to pay your benefits and others do not require that .However, most of the insurance company or extended health care plans do need to see your receipt to pay you your benefits. We recommend that you check with your insurer or human’s resources department to find out if there are any referral requirements. Most plans allow you to call and schedule an appointment with an Osteopathic Practitioner, Physiotherapist or Massage Therapist without medical referral. Upon the completion of treatment we will issue a receipt which will allowed you to use your benefits because we hold valid licenses for the referred services.

Yes, children can benefit from manual osteopathic care because they can suffer in the same manners as adults do. Children use their body with unconscious intensity comparing to adults, but they still respond to the same physical laws. Their behavior may contribute to too many falls and injuries from various activities and sports. Sustained injuries may cause many symptoms including back and neck pain, stiffness, soreness, discomfort or headaches. Osteopathic science is suitable for children, infants and also for the new born.

Science of Osteopathy is organized methodological faculty which guides an osteopathic practitioner to follow a scope of practice and to use approaches beneficial to patients experiencing variety of aches and pains. In case of broken bone, joint infection, or osteoporosis the manual osteopathic practitioner may choose from varieties of techniques that would enhance your vitality while working aside from the affected area. This type of treatment can be provided after the medical intervention took place and your physical condition is stable.

The technique of osteoarticular adjustment will NOT be used if you sustained dislocation, underwent joint surgery or if you are taking an anticoagulant (aspirin) medication. In those situations you can still benefit from osteopathic treatment but from different techniques aiming to enhance your wellbeing and facilitate healing.  

We insist that you consult with your Medical Doctor to update your state of health and to rule out possible adverse effect of any treatments or therapy.

The cost for our services is based on the time spend with a patient. We do not charge per sessions as this is neither fair to you nor to us. We charge by the hourly rate. First visit consist of assessment and treatment and last one hour and half.  Following -up visits are usually one hour long. For a specific price please call our office at 416 445- 2200

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario holds the license for Doctor of Osteopathy and recognizes only practitioners trained in USA. Manual Osteopathic Practitioners in Canada are not licensed physicians, but are trained in Traditional Osteopathy as set by Founders. At present the traditional Osteopathic Practitioners in Canada are seeking recognition and regulation for the profession through official venues working with Canadian authorities. The demand for the osteopathic practitioners is on the rise and it is a contributing factor to regulate Osteopathic Manual Practice in Canada. If you require to see a DO (Doctor of Osteopathy) you need to seek a roster of DO’s from the College of Physicians and Surgeons since this is the organization who secures their position in Ontario.

At Health Spectrum we provide Traditional Osteopathic Treatment according to our educational consensus of osteopathic knowledge and skills that we have obtained from Canadian College of Osteopathy and from continuous upgrading courses.