Osteopaths to Treat IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)

If you suffer from IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) then you might want to consider visiting an osteopath who could help you to relieve your symptoms.

Causes and Symptoms of IBS

The cause of IBS is currently unknown and there is no medical cure for it. It describes a list of symptoms including abdominal pain, diarrhoea and constipation, bloating etc. although different people will experience different symptoms and these will often come and go. If you have IBS you will probably be all too aware of the symptoms that you personally experience.


Diagnosis of IBS and Similar Diseases

IBS is only ever diagnosed once alternative conditions have been excluded because its presence cannot be definitively tested. There are a number of other conditions that can present in a similar way to IBS including; celiac disease, inflammatory bowel diseases, chronic constipation, infections and some cancers. Due to this similarity, these diseases that are similar in symptoms to IBS can be treated by osteopathy in a similar manner to IBS.

Osteopathic Treatment for IBS or Other Causes of Abdominal Pain

Osteopathic treatment can be used to alleviate some of the discomfort caused by IBS. Osteopaths will use a range of methods (depending on your personal set of IBS symptoms) in order to provide relief to your bowel. Increasing the blood flow and nerve supply and reducing the tension in your surrounding muscles will all act to provide you will relief from abdominal pain and to reduce your susceptibility to constipation and diarrhoea.   

In addition to this, your IBS may be initiated (or made worse) by stress and osteopathic treatment has a secondary effect of relaxing the body which could alleviate some of your feeling of stress. This could further act to reduce the severity of your IBS symptoms and/or prevent them from reoccurring.

How effective is Osteopathic Treatment for IBS

Your bowels consist of tubes surrounded by muscle that can go into spasm or seize up. Osteopathic treatment gentle stimulates these muscles, loosens the surrounding tissue and reduces any local swelling. This reduces pain that you feel both around your abdomen and in your lower back. In addition osteopathic treatment will reduce the pain felt in your gut. In fact osteopathy was found (using scientific method) to produce a significant improvement in bowel function (using the international Rome II criteria) by enhancing the structure of your stool. 


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