Osteopathy and Children: Striving for life-long wellness
Children aren’t small adults. They’re growing fast and sometimes their system needs support. From birth through adulthood, osteopathy has a proven track record in improving the comfort of children.
It can begin with a newborn. Many mothers opt for mother and baby osteopathy as a way to ensure both are functioning well following the often-traumatic experiences of child birth. Osteopathy Manual Therapists (OMTs), like the ones at Consensio, can do a full examination of both mother and child and provide relief for a variety of concerns.
To increase better mobility in infants who many favouring one side of their body, for example, OMTs can work to improve better mobility. Babies who are having trouble latching on to the breast – and new mothers struggling with nursing – can also benefit from an osteopathic intervention. OMTs can help the two find a more comfortable positioning of both bodies for successful breastfeeding.
Children complaining of discomfort are often difficult to address. OMTs have a unique way of discovering the root causes of these discomforts.
Skull shape abnormalities are a particular interest to Consensio’s Nathalie Trottier. Patients come from throughout Western Canada to be seen by her.
Patients here are often referred from physiotherapists, acupuncturists, naturopaths or massage therapists. Sometimes, though, they come recommended by a friend.
Either way, you may be wondering what it’s like to come to Consensio.
Your first appointment is about getting to know your Osteopathic Manual Therapist (OMT) and for her to get to know you. You’ll arrive at the clinic in Canmore and be taken into an office that is relaxing and comforting. Your OMT will give you an orientation to osteopathy, discuss with you about your discomforts, and work with you to draw up a plan of intervention.
You’ll stand up straight and she’ll pay attention to your body’s positioning. Then, you’ll lie down on a treatment table and she will do the same. All the while, your OMT will listen carefully to all you feel like sharing. You can be – and will be – heard. It’s nurturing and very present.
Your OMT will discuss a plan of intervention with you, and you’ll have time to discuss and ask any questions you may have. You’ll likely go home feeling relaxed and calm.
When you return for your second appointment, the intervention begins immediately. After three to five visits, you’ll have a good sense of whether it can help you.
For many people, osteopathy becomes a part of their regular wellness and self-maintenance routine. Others find that once certain discomforts are ‘solved’, they don’t need to return. Either way, you’ll be on your way to living your life to the fullest!
Biography: Nathalie Trottier
Nathalie Trottier studied Physiotherapy at the University of Montreal (1987-90) and Osteopathy at the Collège d’Études Ostéopathiques de Montréal (1991-98). She presented an osteopathic thesis on the work and teachings of Dr. William G. Sutherland – a well-known researcher, teacher and practitioner. This work not only brought her to Europe and to the United States but also won her the Andrew Taylor Still Award for the most representative, philosophical and sociological research for osteopathic advancement.
Wanting to continue and promote research for complementary medicine, Nathalie completed a Master’s Degree at the University of Calgary in 2012. She studied the effectiveness of osteopathic manual treatment in the conservative management of infants with deformational plagiocephaly and congenital muscular torticollis.
Nathalie has worked in both Québec and Alberta exploring both alternative and conventional fields. Since 1990, Nathalie has been treating people – from newborns to elders – with the same passion as when she began.
Dedicated to the future of her science, Nathalie is committed to supervising student thesis work. In working with students, she has explored many research questions such as Plagiocephaly, pregnancy and labour, concussions, stress management and palpation. Many of these studies have won awards for their research projects. She was also involved in the development of her science as co-leader of the Specialized Interest Group of Osteopathy of INCAM.
After having worked in several different Osteopathic and Integrative Medicine clinics, she decided to open Consensio clinic in 2014 and build a collaborative environment.