NOW CLOSED: Osteopathy and Children at the Valley Massage Therapy Clinic in Kentville
*Disclosure: My so received a treatment in exchange for this blog post. By doing these, we get to try new things to help teach others. All opinions are our own.*
See the bottom of this post for your chance to WIN a free osteopathy session!
I have always had great service at the Valley Massage Therapy Clinic in Kentville, and love going there.
Read my review about my massage experience!
When the clinic contacted me about coming in with the boys for an osteopathy appointment, we jumped at the chance to try something new.
We decided to give the appointment to Thomas, 9. He’s a very rough-playing kid with a high pain threshold who has had many injuries. Also, since he was a baby he has suffered from digestion problems.
Although he wasn’t presenting with any specific ailments, we wanted to see what would be said about him.
What is Osteopathy?
That was one of our main questions. What is it, exactly, how does it work, and what will happen when we are there?
Here’s what the website says:
Osteopathy embraces the philosophy that the body has an innate, natural ability to self-regulate and to heal itself. Osteopathy is a form of drug-free, non-invasive manual medicine that focuses on total body health by treating and strengthening the musculoskeletal framework, which includes the joints, muscles and spine. Its aim is to positively affect the body’s circulatory and lymphatic systems.
This therapy is a unique holistic (whole body) approach to health care. Osteopaths do not simply concentrate on treating the problem area, but use manual techniques to balance all systems of the body, to provide overall good health and wellbeing.
Osteopathic practitioners treat all ages (newborns to seniors).
Our Osteopathic Practitioner
We were warmly greeted by practitioner, Meike Dornieden.
Meike is a Registered Osteopath offering osteopathic treatments and care for all age groups including newborns.
Meike graduated from the School of Classic Osteopathic Medicine in Switzerland in 2005, after she had been practicing as a physiotherapist since 1998.
Osteopathy has allowed Meike to find her passion with Pediatric Osteopathy.
She has established an osteopathic newborn checkup in Swiss hospitals where she treated newborns right after delivery.
Thomas Talks about his Osteo Treatment
Hi, my name is Thomas and I will be talking about a story that happened to me so the date was Friday November 10, 2017 it was a day of school and I went to this osteo place.
Before I went in, I felt nervous because I didn’t know if I wanted to do it.
First, she had me stand up and she checked my shoulders. Then, she checked my hips. Then, she laid me down on a bed to check my back, neck, feet, hips and stomach.
She checked my mouth by taking a glove and putting a finger in my mouth and pushing on the sides of my mouth.
Some parts felt uncomfortable, but she always asked me how I was feeling. Sometimes it tickled.
I felt really relaxed the entire time.
It felt the best when she was rubbing the muscles on my ribs.
She explained everything to me the whole time what she was doing. It felt nice when she explained things to me. She was mostly talking to me, rather than Mom, the whole time about what was happening.
You shouldn’t feel nervous about going because it’s not scary.
Notes from the Parent
Meike immediately made Thomas feel at ease, and she has a wonderful rapport with children, maybe because she has 3 sons of her own!
Meike started by taking a detailed case history about Thomas from his injuries to health problems and habits. As she worked on Thomas, she explained to us both, mostly him – treating him as the patient – what she was doing, and why.
At the beginning of the session, she showed me how Thomas was lopsided, with one shoulder and hip being higher than the other. By the end of the session, she showed me again, how they were once again even!
Parents are always in the room with the child, unless it is a teenager who does not want a parent present! I immediately felt relaxed and calm, just being there, and feeding off what she was doing to Thomas.
What conditions can Osteopathy treat?
Osteopathy can be used to treat a specific issue, or a preventive health measure for numerous conditions including, but not limited to:
- Back, neck, head and jaw problems
- Circulatory problems
- Decrease stress and tension
- Digestive, respiratory and menstrual problems
- Circulatory problems
- Increased range of motion
- Nerve pain, sciatica, tingling an numbness
- Postural problems
- Soft tissue injuries: sprains, strains, tendonitis
- Sleep or energy issues
- Pregnancy discomfort, labour preparation and post-natal care including breastfeeding
- Repetitive strain injuries
- Unsettled babies, colic, recurrent ear infections
Do you have a Newborn?
All newborns under a month are invited to the clinic for a FREE 20 minute check up!
To find out more information on osteopathy and how Meike can help you in pregnancy, post-pregnancy, with your newborn or children, or other health concerns contact the Valley Massage Therapy clinic in Kentville!
Book an appointment today!
Valley Massage Therapy Clinic, Kentville
BONUS: There is direct billing for Osteopathy with Medavie Blue Cross!
WIN an Osteopathy Appointment from Valley Massage Therapy Clinic!
This appointment is good for any age group! Draw date: December 1, 2017.
Enter by clicking the image below!
When you return to the main road, turn right, and it’s about a 2 minute walk back to the car. 
