Latest news with #osteopathy
Daily Mail
18-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Osteopath: My 10-second 'nervous system hack' for INSTANT shoulder and neck pain relief
It's an issue millions are all too familiar with - particularly weary office workers and busy parents. But now a leading osteopath has spilled his secret for easing neck and shoulder relief in a matter of seconds: The 'Fold & Hold' method. Brendon Talbot, from Canada, specialises in bone and muscle tissue and regularly shares his tips for releasing tension, treating neck 'humps', and easing aches and pains on TikTok. And not only has this new trick proved popular, but those who have tried it have reported 'incredible and immediate' results. 'If you're someone who experiences pain or tightness at the top of your shoulder blade - maybe you feel tension when you look down or rotate your head to one side - it's possible this muscle right here [levator scapula] is irritated,' he said in a video. 'Chronic tension through this muscle can negatively impact your cervical spine mobility, contributing to headaches, migraines, TMJ dysfunction or dizziness. 'Poor posture, stress or shoulder dysfunction are some common causes of this issue.' 'Although simply stretching this muscle does not create long-lasting change, here's something you can try.' 1. Start by tracing the scapula towards the spine until you reach the top corner - or until you find your tender spot. 2. From here we are going to use a Fold & Hold technique to gently reset the muscle tone by working with the nervous system rather than against it. This decreases tension through the sensory receptors and can downregulate the pain. 3. Hold this for 20-90 seconds or until the pain turns to pressure. 4. From here, maintaining the same pressure, bend the head forward and away from the shoulder blade to lengthen the muscle. 5. Take three to five deep breaths, relaxing into each exhale for a greater stretch. 6. Gently release and re-check mobility. Brendon said this 'positional release' method is used in manual osteopathic treatment and helps relieve muscle and tendon irritation by reducing excessive tension and restoring normal function. 'It is a form of strain-counter strain, where you shorten the irritated muscle and hold it in a relaxed position to allow the body to reset muscle tone and pain perception,' he said. 'You're technically "tricking" your nervous system! This "folding" removes strain from the Golgi tendon organs (GTOs) and muscle spindles, which are sensory receptors responsible for muscle tension regulation.' He said this position is held for 20-90 seconds to allow the neuromuscular system to adjust. This, he added, gives the body time to recognise the reduced strain and downregulate the pain response. 'The muscle spindles stop signaling excessive tension, which reduces protective guarding and pain perception,' he said. 'The autonomic nervous system (ANS) shifts toward a parasympathetic state, decreasing overall muscle hypertonicity.' Many who tried the method reported great success. 'My neck has been hurting for weeks - constantly feels like a crick in my neck. I tried this and it was the only thing that has helped! Thank you so much,' one wrote. 'Wow that actually helped,' added another.
Globe and Mail
17-07-2025
- Health
- Globe and Mail
The Canadian Academy of Osteopathy Calls for Renewed Focus on Principles-Based Osteopathy
Founder Robert Johnston Urges Critical Thinking and Drug-Free Healing Amidst Rising Demand for Integrated Care Following a recent in-depth interview, The Canadian Academy of Osteopathy (CAO) and its founder, Robert Johnston, are raising awareness about the urgent need to return to principles-based osteopathy. As demand grows for natural, drug-free healthcare options, Johnston is calling on the healthcare community—and the public—to embrace osteopathy's original philosophy: helping the body heal itself. 'Osteopathy is not about memorising techniques,' Johnston says. 'It's about understanding how the body works as a whole and learning how to think critically as a practitioner.' The CAO trains more than 500 students annually, many of whom now work in private clinics, sports centres, and multidisciplinary practices across Canada and beyond. Their graduates specialise in Principles-based Osteopathic Manual Practice, focusing on improving the body's ability to self-regulate and self-regulate. Advocating for Better Patient Care Through Critical Thinking In the interview, Johnston warned that modern healthcare often overlooks the power of hands-on, integrated care. 'We are seeing too much focus on fast fixes,' he says. 'But lasting health comes from treating the root causes, not just the symptoms.' Osteopathy is proven to support a wide range of issues—from muscle pain and digestive disorders to mobility problems and stress-related conditions. Studies show that nearly one in five Canadians experience chronic pain, and integrated therapies are gaining attention as effective alternatives to medication. Principles-based osteopathy which is an elite specialty within osteopathy is highly regarded among patients for providing significant and lasting results. 'Patients often tell us they can feel the difference after treatment,' Johnston explains. 'Our method, Collective Mechanics™, gives practitioners a precise way to assess and treat the body, leading to better outcomes.' Championing Community Service and Accessible Care The CAO also runs a charity student clinic in both Hamilton and Calgary, offering free osteopathy treatment to local residents who may not have access to such care elsewhere. Johnston says this community work is essential to both student learning and patient support. 'We're proud to serve our community while preparing students for the real world,' he says. 'It's about giving back and making osteopathy accessible to all.' An Invitation to Think Differently About Health Johnston is encouraging people everywhere to think beyond quick solutions and explore therapies that promote long-term wellness. 'We want people to ask themselves: Am I just treating symptoms, or am I really supporting my body's ability to heal?' he says. The CAO's call to action is simple—but powerful: Learn more about integrated care options. Explore therapies that align with your body's natural processes. And, most importantly, prioritise practitioners who are highly trained and focus on critical thinking and personalised care. To read the full interview, visit the website here. About The Canadian Academy of Osteopathy Founded in 2003 in Hamilton, Ontario, The Canadian Academy of Osteopathy is a leading institution for classical, principles-based osteopathy education. It trains hundreds of students annually and is recognised for its high standards, community-focused approach, and unique Collective Mechanics™ treatment model. Contact: info@ Media Contact Company Name: The Canadian Academy of Osteopathy Email: Send Email Country: Canada Website:
ABC News
05-06-2025
- Health
- ABC News
Italian osteopath practising in Canberra sexually assaulted patient, civil tribunal finds
Warning: This story contains details of sexual assault. An Italian osteopath practising in Canberra engaged in professional misconduct by touching and penetrating a patient "without clinical justification, for a sexual purpose", the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal (ACAT) has found. Daniele Caminiti is an Italian citizen who worked as an osteopath in Canberra in 2022 after receiving provisional registration with the Osteopathy Board of Australia the previous year. Court documents show the man returned to Italy just days after his employer said it was investigating serious allegations against him, including that he had sexually assaulted a patient and used clinic records to contact the woman. A colleague of Mr Caminiti's first raised the alarm on April 4, 2022, notifying the Osteopathy Board of Australia that a female patient had disclosed to him that Mr Caminiti had "entered her vagina with one or more digits during a consultation". The patient had seen Mr Caminiti three times as she had been suffering from hip and sciatica pain and rheumatoid arthritis, with the sexual assault and professional misconduct occurring during the third appointment. Court documents state on March 28, 2022, Caminiti massaged the patient's legs and inner groin at which time she said she told Mr Caminiti "that she was not hurting there, but he did not respond". The patient reported that Mr Caminiti then massaged her labia, before inserting his index finger into her vagina, prompting her to jump off the bed, saying "what are you doing?" The woman said he apologised and she responded: "It's okay, I forgive you" before mr Caminiti continued the treatment with acupuncture and bone adjustments. She then paid at reception and made another appointment. "I kept replaying in my mind what happened, trying to make sense of it all. Every hour I was crying, I didn't know who to tell, I was so scared and embarrassed. He was my practitioner and I trusted him," the patient told the tribunal. But before the next appointment, the woman rang the clinic and told the receptionist that she did not want Mr Caminiti to touch her body again because "he had inserted his finger into her vagina". She booked in to see another practitioner who went on to report Mr Caminiti's misconduct to the board. That practitioner said Mr Caminiti tried to enter the room to speak to the woman during that session, but he blocked Mr Caminiti from doing so. ACAT is required to prove any misconduct to the civil standard of proof which is on the balance of probabilities. It said it had done this in the case of Mr Caminiti, with his professional misconduct including that he had accessed the patient's clinical records to get her mobile phone number to text her from his personal mobile number, apologising and asking for her silence. A photograph of the text message was used as evidence in the proceedings, with Caminiti texting the woman: "Please don't mention this to anyone, it could jeopardise my entire career, destroy my family". ACAT's decision disqualifies Mr Caminiti from applying for registration as a registered health practitioner for seven years or providing any health service to a female patient for the same duration. Mr Caminiti's Canberra employer wrote to him on April 4, 2022 telling him not to come to work while it investigated serious allegations. That was the same day the woman disclosed the misconduct to Mr Caminiti's colleague. A police report about the allegations was made two days later. Court documents show an Australian Border Force officer confirmed to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency that Mr Caminiti "departed the country bound for Italy on 9 April 2022". The tribunal said Mr Caminiti left Australia "shortly after the allegations against him were made and has been practising since that time in Italy". The tribunal held a one-day hearing in February this year which Mr Caminiti did not participate in.
