A functioning self-healing and immune system can solve virtually any health problem. Therefore osteopathy focuses on activating these oftentimes impaired self-healing powers and thereby achieve a completely natural healing. The cause of impaired self-healing powers is a problem with the nourishing and cleansing of the cells, the muscles, the bones or any other structure. The osteopath achieves this by means of his knowledge of human anatomy and physiology and with finesse of his palpation. The osteopathic techniques are however also wonderfully suited for self-treatment. This is where personal body-awareness comes into play.
In this book, Thomas Seebeck conveys the principles of osteopathic treatment, and a variety of exercises for back pain relief at all areas of the spine. The exercises are illustrated in a detailed and practical manner.
This book is a subset of the book "Osteopathic Self-Treatment" written by the same author.

Contents

Part 1: Osteopathic Principles

• Unlike you would think
• Direct and indirect technique
• Direct and indirect technique in nature
• Osteopathy - supporting nature's healing powers
• "Activating Forces"
• Strain-Counterstrain (SCS)
• The "onion of discomfort"

Part 2: Exercises from top to bottom

• Cervical spine
• Discomforts at the back of your head (upper cervical spine)
• Cervical spine
• Discomforts in the neck radiating into the head (cervical spine)
• Thoracic spine
• The area of the thoracic spine/chest/ribs - sitting down
• The area of the thoracic spine/chest/ribs - standing
• The counterstrain exercise for the chest area
• Lumbar spine
• Exercise with stronger back pain
• Discomforts of the lumbar spine
• Exercises for the whole spine
• The "waves on the ocean" exercise
• Unstable spine - "no plane"
• Unstable spine - "maybe plane"
• Exercise option on the "yes plane"
• Support for the spine: from pelvis to feet
• Discomforts in the area of the pelvic floor
• Discomforts in the area of the sacroiliac joint
• Discomforts in the gluteal area
• Hip joint problems
• The area of the hip joint/pubic bone/adductors
• Knee exercise
• Exercise for the balance of the knee muscles
• Feet - Problems with the upper ankle joint
• Problems with the lower ankle joint
• Shoulders
• Basic exercise for shoulder discomforts
• Dysfunctions in the area of the acromioclavicular joint
• "Grounding" and centering
• "Grounding" exercise
• Centering exercise
• Exercise of the inner alchemy