What is Osteopathy?

Osteopathy investigates the root cause of musculoskeletal, visceral and cranial dysfunctions. It aims to facilitate self-regulation, optimizing the body's function through its own structure. Osteopathy views the body as a self-healing, dynamic unit where structure and function are interrelated.

Osteopathy is a modality of manual therapy used to address the lack of mobility in the connective tissue to re-establish the function of structures and systems in the human body. It aims to facilitate and optimize one's capacity to self-regulate through a global approach.

The Shift Bodywork and Performance Care Osteopathy Experience

Our Osteopathic practitioners bring extensive experience in elite sport including continuing education and skill to their practices to make them essential members of our therapeutic team.

Our East Toronto clinic in Leslieville specializes in game-changing, transformative techniques to help you efficiently rehabilitate complex injuries and movement dysfunction. Our team collaborates on client care through mentorship to enhance communication to support our diverse client base. In addition, we emphasize injury prevention and performance-focused care to assess and treat dysfunction before it becomes an issue.

Benefits of Osteopathy

Osteopathy assists healing and self-regulation through alignment of all layers of structure in a body to improve function. Osteopathic Manual Practitioners are functional anatomists who use manual therapy to restore proper biomechanics, neural function and circulation, by removing motion restriction where needed. A variety of techniques including myofascial and muscular techniques, muscles energy techniques, joint mobility techniques, visceral manipulations, and cranio sacral therapy may be used according to the needs of the patient.

Who is Osteopathy for?

• Chronic pain

• Acute pain

• Concussion

• Low back pain

• Movement restriction

• Post surgical

• Restrictions in connective tissue

• Persistent shoulder pain

• Unexplained abdominal or digestive discomfort

Osteopathy FAQs:

What should I wear to my appointment?

During your visit, we ask you to bring a pair of shorts and a t-shirt to ensure comfort during the assessment.

Do you direct bill?

Only Greenshield and Blue Cross allow direct billing for Osteopathy services.

Will my therapist bench me from my favourite activities?

Not necessarily. We want to keep people doing the things that move them. Whether it be their professional activity, strumming a guitar, or playing their sport. We use innovative techniques to identify and re-program dysfunctional biomechanics to get our clients back to their chosen activity as soon as possible. We understand how much exercise improves the quality of life and make modifications with that in mind.

Will my therapist use extensive modalities as part of the treatment plan?

No. We are a hands-on clinic, meaning we don't rely on passive modalities to deliver care. The only modality we have on-site is electroacupuncture (when tolerated), which has a robust evidence base. In addition, our treatments include joint mobilizations, soft tissue work, motor re-patterning, exercise therapy, and functional movement.