COVID
More and more patients come to the practice who have problems breathing. Occasionally, the breaths lead to a burning sensation behind the breastbone. More frequent are cases where deep breathing is difficult. Abdominal breathing is hardly possible. Fitness and athletic performance are extremely limited. How do we treat patients after a Covid infection in our practice?
We look at the whole person, as usual! If there are blockages in the spine and ribs, we deblock them. In common parlance, this is called "breaking bones" or "setting bones". As part of osteopathy, we can correct these movement restrictions quickly and effectively with high velocity low amplitude manipulations. Our largest breathing muscle is the diaphragm. When we breathe superficially for a long time, the diaphragm moves little towards the abdomen. This leads to tension in the neck, as the respiratory support muscles are overworked, and to reduced movement of the abdominal viscera. For lay people, this may seem strange. The diaphragm moves about 23,000 times a day with each breath. The lower the diaphragm, also called the diaphragma pleurale, sinks towards the navel, the more air we get into the lungs. This mechanism is restricted after a covid infection with symptoms of coughing and sneezing. The oxygen supply to the cells depends on harmonious breathing.
We treat covid or long covid osteopathically on a visceral, craniosacral and parietal level. This means we treat the dominant disorder first. Organs such as lungs, liver, stomach and intestines or diaphragm and ribs with the associated vertebral joints and musculature. Physiotherapy offers a wide range of holistic breathing exercises to deepen breathing and exercises to increase endurance (cardiovascular). Our psychologist addresses anxiety disorders that often affect covid patients. Our holistic nutritionist gives practical tips and advice for a healthy immune system-strengthening diet and any dietary supplements that may be necessary.
