Osteopathy: My Personal Experience as a Doctor
Lately, I have found myself increasingly intrigued by osteopathy. Despite being a discipline that has been recognized as a health profession in Italy since 2018, it remains shrouded in an aura of skepticism and, in some ways, mystery.
I am a doctor, a man of science, and I like to delve into every topic through studies and scientific literature. However, curiosity and open-mindedness are also fundamental tools in our profession, and that is why I decided to live a first-hand experience with an osteopath.
What inspired me to try osteopathy?
I admit I am quite skeptical. I believe in scientific research, in evidence that is validated and replicated, and I have a strongly rational approach. But curiosity is one of the driving forces that pushes me to explore new horizons, and this time I let myself be convinced by a friend who, for over a year, had been suggesting that I visit an osteopath in my area. "He is extremely knowledgeable and has an uncommon sensitivity," he told me. After a long time, I decided to listen to him.
I did not go to the osteopath for a specific problem, but for a general check-up. I did not want to provide any prior information, so as to test his ability to "perceive" any problems.
What is Osteopathy and How Does It Work?
Osteopathy is a manual practice born in America, which has evolved as a medical discipline in some American universities. It is a methodology that is based on the interconnection between the different parts of the body, promoting the concept of self-healing .
The theoretical foundation of osteopathy revolves around the so-called law of the artery : a free circulation of blood is essential for the health of the body. Where there is an impediment, dysfunctions and tensions can arise that the osteopath tries to identify and treat manually.
One aspect that I found interesting is the emphasis on tactile perception. Through years of practice, the osteopath develops a sensitivity, capable of detecting tensions and imbalances.
My visit to the osteopath
The professional who visited me, Fabrizio Renzoni, immediately struck me with his preparation and professionalism. The visit began simply: Fabrizio began to feel various parts of the body, starting from the ankles and then moving up to the knees, abdomen, head and other areas. What happened next was, for me, surprising.
The right knee and hip
After touching my right knee, he asked me if I had any problems in that area. Indeed, a few months earlier I had had an MRI for an inexplicable pain in that very knee.
Fabrizio then linked this tension to a malfunction of the right hip, even though I had no obvious symptoms in that area. An observation that left me perplexed, but that made me think.
Throat inflammation and gastroesophageal reflux
During the visit, he told me that he felt a sore throat and, potentially, a slight acid reflux. I had not told him anything about it, but in fact, at that time, I had noticed a red throat. The correlation with the reflux had never occurred to me, but his observation led me to reevaluate some aspects of my diet.
Eye tension and right shoulder
Another interesting moment was when he asked me if I wore contact lenses. I don’t, but I suffer from hyperopia, a condition that can cause eye strain, headaches, and fatigue. Fabrizio didn’t identify my hyperopia, but he felt an overload in the eye area.
Additionally, he detected inflammation in my right shoulder, a problem I had actually had in the past due to an exercise at the gym.
Final Thoughts: Science and Perception
As a doctor, I am accustomed to looking for rational explanations for everything I observe. Some of Fabrizio's " hits " may be coincidental, but I cannot deny that I was impressed by his ability to detect details that actually matched my medical history.
This does not mean that osteopathy is an exact science or that it can replace other therapeutic methodologies, but it is certainly an approach that deserves attention.
One aspect that I appreciated is the connection between manual practice and the importance of nutrition. Fabrizio does not limit himself to body treatment, but also works on the balance of the microbiota and on the construction of blood , through a diet rich in cereals, fruit and vegetables.
This integrated approach, which combines manual treatment and a healthy lifestyle, seems to me to be a strength that can support many people.
Conclusions: What I Learned from Osteopathy
This experience taught me that, even as a skeptic, there is always something to learn. Not everything can be explained immediately, and open-mindedness is essential to understand methodologies that are outside our traditional field. Osteopathy, with its limits and its potential, has proved to me to be an interesting opportunity for reflection.
If you too are curious or want to improve your overall well-being, it might be worth trying an osteopathic approach. After all, there is nothing wrong with wanting to better understand how our bodies work.
