What is osteopathy?
Osteopathy is a therapeutic approach that treats the body as a whole. Joint mobility, muscle and fascial tension, breathing and the mobility of tissues around the internal organs all influence one another – which is why pain in one place can have its source somewhere else. The therapist works with their hands: looking for areas of restricted movement or increased tension and helping to restore their normal function.
At Fizjo-Fan we combine the osteopathic approach with physiotherapy – clinical assessment, manual therapy and exercise. Depending on your needs, we use:
- structural techniques – joint mobilisations and HVLA manipulations (a quick, low-amplitude thrust),
- fascial and myofascial techniques,
- visceral techniques – gentle work around the abdomen and chest that improves the mobility of tissues around the organs,
- cranial techniques and BLT (balanced ligamentous tension) – calm, low-force techniques,
- treatment of the temporomandibular (jaw) joints.
What can osteopathy help with?
Osteopathic treatment is worth considering if:
- you have lower back pain, neck pain or pain between the shoulder blades,
- you suffer from tension headaches or jaw (TMJ) pain,
- you feel pain and restricted movement in the shoulder, hip or knee due to overload,
- you spend many hours sitting and feel stiffness and tension,
- you are recovering from an injury or surgery – as a complement to rehabilitation,
- your symptoms keep returning despite previous treatment.
Research gives the strongest support for osteopathic treatment in lower back and neck pain, where its effects are comparable to other forms of manual therapy. That is why we always combine it with exercise and education, which help the improvement last.
If you have a fever, unexplained weight loss, sudden leg weakness, numbness in the groin area or a fresh injury, we will first refer you to a doctor.
What a visit looks like
- Consultation – we ask about your symptoms, history of injuries and surgery, lifestyle, sleep, stress and the demands of your work and training.
- Assessment – we look at posture, spinal and joint mobility, tissue tension and breathing, and carry out clinical and neurological tests. We look for the link between where it hurts and where the problem comes from.
- Treatment – techniques are chosen based on the assessment and your comfort. Before each technique we explain what we are doing and why.
- Recommendations – home exercises, advice on posture at work and during activity, and a plan for further visits.
Who provides the treatment
Osteopathic treatment at Fizjo-Fan is provided by Sebastian Strulak, MSc – a physiotherapist (graduate of the College of Rehabilitation in Warsaw) specialising in manual therapy, in his final, 4th year of training at the Still Academy of Osteopathy. His completed courses include HVLA structural techniques, visceral and cranial osteopathy, the osteopathic approach to the fascial system and clinical examination.
Book a visit
Our clinic at Al. Jerozolimskie 200 in Warsaw is open Monday to Friday until 9 pm and on Saturdays. You can book your visit online via Booksy.