At the Starsiak Osteopathic Clinic we are taking COVID very seriously. We are taking extra caution in keeping things sanitary and staying up to date with the governors orders and the ABMPs suggestions for a safe practice. As of right now the ABMP states there is no known way to eliminate the risk of transmission and infection and there is no risk- free environment in which to conduct business today. With that being said, here are some of the ways we are making sure we all stay safe while keeping the business open. 
All patients are to stay 6 feet apart, only one patient in the waiting area at a time, windows will be opened in between sessions for ventilation, hands thoroughly washed and sanitized up to the elbows before and after a massage, gloves can be worn if that feels safest to the client, minimal contact during check in and check out, all areas will be sanitized between patients. 
The only way to not get Coronavirus is to not be exposed, which means staying at home with 0 contact with anyone else. However, there are ways to protect your body and strengthen your immune system. One major thing that weakens the immune system is stress. This pandemic has definitely caused a lot of stress on our bodies. Some ways to get rid of stress are massage, yoga, meditation, supplements, etc. We offer massage, private yoga sessions, and many supplements that can help decrease stress and boost your immune system so that you can still enjoy life.

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-   I think there is no doubt that if you are reading this you have experienced or do experience stress. Short term stress is normal and needed for our survival. Our bodies have systems in place to help us deal with stressors, physical and mental. 
    
   When our bodies experience stress our heart rate and blood pressure may increase, breathing speeds up, knots in our stomach appear, etc. While these defenses are great in the face of actual danger.. Do we really need to feel this way on a daily or weekly basis because of things like work, children, money, relationships? Chronic stress contributes to a multitude of health conditions including: anxiety, depression, heart disease, cancer, chronic fatigue, insomnia, adrenal dysfunction, and so much more. All of these cause more issues in your life and it is like a never ending stressful cycle. The APA’s Stress in America Survey findings show that stress is interfering with our ability to function and is becoming a public health crisis.
What if there was something that could help your body adapt to stress better? So that you can save the increased heart rate and panic for actual dangerous situations and feel more at ease with the everyday stresses of life..
   
   Guess what! There is. These plants are called adaptogens. I love these guys. “Adaptogen” defines herbs that help “protect the body against physical, mental, and emotional stress by strengthening the immune system” (Medicinal Herbs 61). These amazing plants strengthen the body and create a healthier stress response.
    
Some of the effects of adaptogens include:

• Better energy circulation
• Decreased stress
• Balanced hormone levels
• Fight fatigue
• Improved attention
• Improved energy levels
• Improved organ function like liver and adrenal glands
• Improved function of body systems like gastrointestinal system

In addition to adaptogenic properties, most adaptogens have other helpful effects.  Some of the common adaptogens stocked and used by Dr. Starsiak are:

• Ashwagandha- improves sexual desire and function, increased muscle strength, decreased body fat, decreases joint pain, improves rate of sleep onset
• Shatavari- anti yeast, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti- anxiety, protects liver, balances hormones, anti- diabetes, treats menopausal symptoms, improves menstrual symptoms
• Guduchi- rich in antioxidants that have anti-aging properties, treats diabetes, helps with UTIs, fevers, infections, and digestive disorders
• Tulsi- (aka Holy Basil) anti-anxiety, anti- inflammatory, combats respiratory ailments, relieves arthritis, helps with digestive disorders
• Shilajit- brain function, anemia, anti- viral, helps with chronic fatigue
• Kapikacchu- treats Parkinson’s, anti- anxiety, relieves fever
• Adrenal Nourish (Gotu kola and brahmi, ashwagandha)- promotes balanced energy levels and stamina, supports function of the adrenals, anti-anxiety, nourishing to the endocrine system.

If you would like to know more about how you can use Adaptogens, call us to schedule an appointment with Dr. Starsiak.


-Quinn

From how the media portrays drug use, to wrong knowledge  picked up here and there, it isn't hard to misunderstand addiction.  It's not a topic that's spoken of openly and frequently enough to really come to grips with it.
But, if you take a little bit of time to learn more about addiction and the reasons behind it, you can become more understanding and compassionate towards people suffering from it. 
To help you learn more about addiction, check out these common myths about why people take drugs that definitely aren't true. 
1. All Addicts First Started Taking Drugs to Get High
Despite what a lot of people think, not everyone who's addicted to drugs started taking them because they wanted to get high. In fact, doctors are prescribing very addictive medication every day. These are called opioids, and they're fueling a drug crisis in America.
In 2017, it was found that there were over 190 million opioid prescriptions. To put that in perspective, if everyone received a prescription, including children, over half of our population would be taking opioids. 
These opioids are so addictive that up to 12% of people taking them start abusing them.  By the way, 80% of heroin users started with an opioid prescription. It's a reason for using drugs that people often don't know about, but it's a huge problem in the US.
The problem here isn't with the addict, but with the medical industry. Make sure you know the signs of prescription drug abuse to keep your loved ones safe.

2. They Don't Want to Stop
The idea that addicts don't want to stop using or aren't trying hard enough is one of the most harmful myths out there. cOf course, there are some people who don't want to stop, but it definitely isn't always true.
The fact is that coming off of drugs is incredibly hard, even when you want to. This is because addiction changes the way a brain works. Over time, the brain and body become reliant on the drug to function close to normal. When you stop using it, everything in your body is shouting at you to start again.
Some withdrawal symptoms addiction sufferers have when coming off of drugs include:

• Intense nausea and vomiting
• Insomnia
• Fatigue
• Depression, anxiety, and other changes in mood
• Muscle aches and pains
• Diarrhea
• Hallucinations
• Intense craving for the drug
• Fast Heart rate
• Sweating
• Pupil dilation

Anyone that's seen an addict come off of drugs will know that it isn't easy and it's definitely not something they can just stop at will.

3. They Have a Bad Past
When people think of drug addicts, they often think of people with bad, troubled pasts. They imagine someone having grown up in poverty, from a broken home, and surrounded by other troubled people.
The truth is that addicts come from all walks of life and there's never a straight answer for why people use drugs. When people come in for addiction treatments, their pasts are all completely different from one another. They can be rich or poor, young or old; it doesn't matter. 
Drug addiction doesn't discriminate - that's the truth.
4. They Chose to Become Addicted
Although they may have chosen to take the drug in the first place - although that isn't always the case - no one really plans on becoming addicted. Why would they choose that?
The reality is that these drugs have a huge recreational appeal. From helping with social anxiety to relieving stress, there are tons of reasons why people might start using. But they're so highly addictive that before they know it, they're reliant on it.
People usually think they're in control, but the reality is that drugs take that control from them. The fact that even prescribed opioid users can become addicts is proof it's not as simple as a typical choice. 
Make sure to keep an eye for signs of drug use in men and women to make sure those around you aren't suffering. 

5. They Have Character Flaws
A lot of people think addiction is a character flaw, and that people with addictions are abnormal or outcasts. The truth is so far from that.  Everyone has some character flaws whether or not they have an addiction.
The National Institute of Alcohol and Alcoholism found that almost 20% of alcoholics lead functioning, normal lives. Drug users can have families, go out with friends, and have jobs. It's often when their addiction takes over that their lives begin to all apart, and the idea of character flaws is presented.
In reality, anyone can become an addict and it's not a character flaw, it's a disease.
6. Why People Take Drugs? They're Bored
A lot of people imagine that addiction begins when people are bored. They don't work and they have nothing better to do. Whilst boredom can be a cause, it's one of so many.
Here are just a few of the reasons why people do drugs:

• Succumbing to peer pressure
• To escape an unpleasant reality
• To relieve stress, anxiety, or other mental health problems

Usually, the main reason people start using drugs is down to one overriding point: to stop feeling bad. There's often an underlying issue, such as physical abuse, losing a job, or grieving for a loved one, which is the catalyst for drug abuse. They're suffering, and they turn to something to help them escape.
When addicts receive treatment, they often receive therapy too. There's a cause behind drug use that often runs deeper than we can see.
 Understanding why people take drugs is crucial to understanding anyone who might be suffering from an addiction. If you know someone with a substance abuse problem, make sure they get the help they need. 
Get in touch with our team to find out more about our addiction services. 

  Strong doctor-patient relationships significantly improve patient health outcomes. Positive relationships within primary care settings may be the most powerful of all. 
Yet an increasing percentage of American adults do not have a primary care provider. There are many reasons for this lapse, but one of the biggest factors is a simple lack of understanding of why primary care is important. 
Keep reading to learn why primary care matters and what it can do for you. 
What Is Primary Care?
Put simply, primary care is when you have a personal doctor who knows you and who is your go-to source for all your health care needs and concerns.
Where specialists focus on an area of the body or a technique, primary care doctors specialize in knowing their patients. Primary care providers (PCPs) are trained to:

• Perform general wellness checks 
• Diagnose conditions based on patient symptoms
• Prescribe medication or treatment for common ailments
• Help patients manage chronic conditions
• Provide health and lifestyle education
• Connect patients with specialists and support resources 

Instead of working out of hospitals, primary care doctors typically work within communities. They serve individuals and families and build healthy lives and neighborhoods. 
Who Should Seek Primary Care?
Ideally, everyone should have a primary care provider. Research consistently shows that adults with PCPs:

• Are healthier
• Experience a better quality of life
• Have lower rates of cancer, stroke, and heart disease
• Are less likely to be hospitalized for any cause
• Live longer
• Have lower overall health care costs

Tragically, about one-third of men and twenty percent of women do not have PCPs or access to crucial primary care services. 
Primary Care and Early Intervention
Primary care medicine is necessary for personal, community, and national health.  PCPs improve patient health outcomes in many ways. One of those ways is through early intervention. 

PCPs deliver routine care including annual physicals. These regular check-ins are important. They allow doctors to identify symptoms that might suggest the onset of serious conditions.

Testing and early intervention can head off health crises before they escalate. For example, a PCP may recognize that a patient is sugar sensitive. He or she may recommend simple diet and lifestyle changes.

Acting before patients develop full-blown diabetes can prevent decades of struggling. It can also prevent life-threatening health complications from ever occurring.

Patients without PCPs often do not get care until their conditions are advanced and hard to treat.   
PCP Relationships and Quality of Life Research shows that patients find tremendous comfort in having a doctor they know and trust. 
Patients are more likely to share the full details of their symptoms, conditions, and habits with providers they trust. This enables doctors to more accurately diagnose the sources of problems and to create treatment plans that genuinely work for patients. As a result, patients more consistently comply with those plans and see better results.
This means that in addition to the mental and emotional comfort a strong doctor-patient relationship provides, it pays very real dividends in patient health outcomes. Beyond that, it creates the foundation for more widespread gains in overall quality of life.   
Quality of Life
Primary care by definition includes health education. PCPs work with patients to create and build healthy lifestyles that allow them to live their lives to the fullest. For example, PCPs can assist patients with:

• Smoking cessation
• Substance use cessation or moderation
• Developing an appropriate and enjoyable exercise routine
• Making appropriate dietary choices

Continuity of Care
Continuity of care of a fancy way of saying that patients with PCPs get coordinated, cohesive attention. It is impossible to overstate the importance of this. 
Patients that visit specialists hit-and-miss to address concerns they can't ignore often:

• Receive expensive testing more often than necessary because results are not shared
• Get conflicting advice from different practitioners
• Are prescribed dangerous combinations of medications or treatments because each prescriber is unaware of what the others are doing 

Primary care providers, by contrast, coordinate patient care. They work with other practitioners to ensure that information is shared and that treatments and medications are safe together and appropriate for the patient. They remove the burden of tracking, evaluating, and communicating treatments and needs from patients. 
Cost Savings.  Studies show that primary care services reduce patients' health care costs. This is largely attributable to PCP's ability to help patients catch and treat conditions while they are small and simple to address. 
It also reflects the fact that patients without PCPs must often resort to emergency rooms and other costly sources for all of their care needs. Primary care providers, by contrast, can offer quick and affordable care for non-emergency needs. 
Specifically, seeing a PCP for non-emergency care is three to seven times less expensive. Working with a PCP can save patients an average of 33 percent on their health care costs annually. Increased use of PCPs nationwide could save the United States up to $67 billion annually.  
Most primary care services are covered in whole or in part under even basic health insurance plans. 
Primary Care and Chronic Conditions One of the most overlooked primary care specialties is PCPs' ability to help patients manage chronic conditions.
Chronic conditions are epidemic in the modern world. While their commonality makes them easy to take for granted, their effects can be crippling. PCPs play a key role in helping patients manage these conditions and limit their negative impacts on quality of life. 
PCPs can provide:  

• Regular visits and testing to monitor symptoms
• Informed, personalized treatment plans
• Support and education
• Low-cost interventions during flare-ups
• Information on new treatment options as they become available

Finding a Primary Care Provider
​Given the vital role that primary care providers play in health, it is important to choose your provider wisely. Let Indianapolis's leading PCP introduce you to everything primary care has to offer, today.  

Suboxone is a medication that reduces the symptoms of opioid withdrawal. But can you get addicted to Suboxone? Here's your Suboxone addiction guide.

On average, 130 Americans die each day from opioid overdoses. The opioid epidemic is tragic and despite some efforts, our country and the world, in general, are nowhere near getting it under control.  Although it is difficult, it is possible to break free from addiction. The best way to do this is different for each individual, but many have found suboxone to be a big help to them on their recovery journey.  However, some people feel that taking Suboxone is just trading one drug for another. Many worry about the possibility of Suboxone addiction, as well.

Are people in recovery from addiction to opioids at risk of becoming addicted to Suboxone? If so, how can they stop this from happening? Is addiction to Suboxone better than an addiction to opioids, or is it almost the same thing? Is the risk high enough to avoid Suboxone, even if it might save your life?

For the answers to these questions and more, read on.

What Is Suboxone? 
Suboxone is the brand name for a medication that is a combination of two different drugs: buprenorphine and naloxone. It is used for the treatment of opioid use disorder. 

People addicted to opioids will experience intense and painful withdrawals when they try to quit the use of prescription opioids or heroin. Suboxone eliminates withdrawal completely. 
Suboxone can be taken in tablet or film form. In both cases, the drug is dissolved in the patient's mouth and absorbed directly into the blood stream. This type of administration creates the option for users to take it themselves at home, instead of forcing them to visit a clinic each day for their treatment as in the case of methadone.

How Does Suboxone Work?

The primary ingredient in Suboxone is buprenorphine. It is a partial opioid agonist.  Buprenorphine binds the opioid receptors very strongly, but does not activate it as strongly as opioids of abuse.  So, while it eliminates withdrawal it doesn't create the high like other opioids.  Buprenorphine also stops cravings, thereby helping to keep that person from returning to abusing opioids. 

How Many People Use Suboxone?

This medication has helped and continues to help many thousands of people that are trying to break free from opioid addictions. In 2018, $1.9 billion dollars worth of Suboxone was sold in the United States, but fortunately, its purchase and use are covered by health insurance in most cases. 
Experts estimate that about two million Americans are addicted to opioids today, and only about ten percent of them are receiving treatment..

Does Suboxone Really Work?

Overdose rates are reduced by 75% through buprenorphine usage.  Success with buprenorphine increases over the first year of usage. With people who choose to stop burprenorphine after 1 year of use succeeding 49% of the time at not restarting other opiates.  Compare that to someone who tries to quit cold turkey, statistically they have less than a 10% chance of success.  Buprenorphine gives you time to get your life in order while it wards off withdrawal and eliminates the disruptive craving/seeking cycle of other opoids.    
When it comes time to stop taking it, users are tapered off at their own speed. It's likely that they will experience some relatively mild withdrawal symptoms,but this is minimized through changing doses very slowly.  
Because of the length time for which patients must continue using Suboxone, some worry about the possibility of Suboxone addiction.  Is it possible to get addicted to Suboxone?
This is really the wrong question to be asking.  The patient is already addicted, suboxone is the treatment.  People don't use suboxone to get high, it doesn't produce the intensity of experience as the opioids of abuse.   It is more likely that someone would return to abusing other opioids than develop a new addiction to buprenorphine/suboxone.  
Buprenorphine has a built-in ceiling. If a person takes more Suboxone than directed, he or she will not experience stronger effects. This helps to limit Suboxone abuse. 
Is Suboxone Trading One Addiction for Another?
No, this is not the case. Suboxone users use buprenorphine  to ward off withdrawal and cravings for opioids.  They do not use it to get high.  Its' use is functional and not fueled by craving, but rather the physiologic consequences of prolonged opioid usage.  It serves as a crutch for a period of time, while a person heals the consequences of addiction.  This allows them to make amends and improve social relationships and initiate a commitment to healthy living, so when the time to stop the medication arrives their support network and stress management abilities are well developed.    
Suboxone gives users an opportunity to step down their addiction in a way that is manageable over time. For many, having this option saved their lives. Although medication-assisted treatment does not work for everyone, for some it is the factor that makes addiction recovery possible in both the short and long term.

Dr. Starsiak's Healthy Thoughts Blog.

Do you wake up with pains in your joints? Perhaps you suffer from whiplash or facet syndrome. Or maybe you're tired of relying on over the counter pain pills to kick the discomfort of arthritis.
If you have any of these issues and 30 minutes in your day, prolotherapy might be a good option for you.

What is Prolotherapy?
Prolotherapy is a non-surgical pain management treatment that focuses on the source of the pain. The process strengthens and repairs painful joints and connective tissue. 
When you stretch out connective tissue, the joint it holds together becomes unstable and consequently painful. Prolotherapy can repair the weak tissue and produce new collagen. This stabilizes the joint and relieves pain. 

History of Prolotherapy
Prolotherapy, formerly known as sclerotherapy, was used as early as 500B.C.
Roman soldiers with dislocated shoulders were treated with hot branding irons. This fused the torn ligaments in the joints. 
There are also reports of sclerotherapy injections in the 1600s. In the early 1900s, doctors used sclerotherapy to treat varicose veins, hernias, and hemorrhoids.
Orthopedist Early Gedney, D.O. spent his life researching sclerotherapy. In the 1950s, George Hackett, M.D. and Gustav Hemwall, M.D. wrote a book doctors still use today. 
Modern technology has since evolved. Doctors no longer create scar tissue to fuse joints together. Now, they are able to restore flexibility using a regenerative technique. This is what prolotherapy is today.

Is It Just For Sore Joints?
Prolotherapy can successfully treat a variety of painful conditions. These include:

• Joint pain and instability
• Back pain
• Neck pain
• Whiplash
• Tendinitis
• Bursitis
• Facet syndrome
• Tennis elbow
• Degenerative disc disease
• Knee and ankle pain
• Sprains
• Meniscal tears
• Osteoarthritis
• IT band syndrome
• Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ)
• Rotator cuff tears
• Plantar fasciitis

How Does Prolotherapy Work?During treatment, a doctor injects a solution to the injured site. This stimulates your body's natural healing mechanisms to create new tissue. Your body has a natural inflammatory response that will help grow new ligaments and tendons.
The result? You walk away with a stronger, tighter joint and less pain.

What is This Miracle Solution?
The solution used in prolotherapy contains natural substances. Each doctor creates a formula based on the specific patient, which means it's perfectly tailored for every individual. It also contains a local anesthetic to help with discomfort. 
Traditional formulas include:

• Dextrose
• Saline
• Sarapin, procaine, or lidocaine
• Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) and autologous (from the same person)
• Adult stem cell sources from bone marrow or adipose tissue
• Autologus whole blood

How Often Do I Need Treatment?
Typically, a doctor will schedule four to six treatments every few weeks. However, this depends on each individual case. If the specific problem is more severe, your doctor may ask for you to come in more often or for longer.
How Much Does Treatment Hurt?
Even though prolotherapy is a quick process, there may be some pain involved with the procedure. 
Injection pain varies depending on the joint, solution's formula, and the doctor's skill. You might also experience a temporary increase in pain after treatment. It's normal for there to be a little swelling and stiffness as the treatment works.
That being said, these discomforts usually pass quickly. You can also take some over the counter pain relievers, such as Tylenol to help. You will want to avoid taking any anti-inflammatory pain relievers. These can actually counteract the healing process.
How Do I Know If I Am a Good Candidate?
Before scheduling a prolotherapy treatment, your doctor will want to evaluate your case. That involves looking over your patient history as well as a physical exam, and perhaps ordering imaging. 

Other factors to consider are:

• History of damage
• Overall physical health
• Underlying nutritional or other deficiencies

With this information, your doctor will be able to decide if your overall health and ability to heal will make you a good candidate.

What Does the Success Rate Look Like?
As stated above, your success depends a lot on your particular pain, your history, and your ability to heal. In general, though, many patients are able to see success after treatment.
Studies suggest that prolotherapy may be a better option than back surgery for back pain. 85%-95% of back pain patients saw improvement with prolotherapy. Only 52% of back pain patients saw improvement with surgery.
Let's Talk Risks
When you compare prolotherapy to surgery, the risks are significantly less. Your recovery time is shorter. There is less chance of infection and you don't need to undergo general anesthesia or have an overnight stay at a hospital.   Prolotherapy is a safe treatment with proven positive results.
Ready to Call Your Doctor?
If you're ready to permanently kick your joint pains, it's time to call your doctor for an appointment. Gather up your medical history and be prepared to undergo some preliminary exams. 
If you are a good candidate for prolotherapy, you could be on your way to feeling better. Contact us today to learn more and to get started with your treatment. 

Understanding the Benefits of Spa and Medical MassageUnderstanding the Benefits of Spa and Medical Massage
​If you're dealing with pain or medical conditions, it's important to know how a medical massage differs. Here's why it's no ordinary spa massage.
In the modern world, stress has become synonymous with being alive. It's just the way of things. 
Medical science continues to expand what we understand about the effects of stress. This includes the damage it causes and how deep it goes. Fortunately, medical massage rises to meet the challenge of daily stress.
While a spa massage provides a sense of relief from stress, medical massage goes deeper to repair the underlying damage. That's why it's used to treat the majority of the 8.6 million annual injuries related to muscle pulls and active lifestyles. 
Read on to better understand the key benefits and differences between these two types of massage.
Spa Massage OverviewThe general purpose of a massage is to provide relaxation. Practitioners achieve this goal through different methods tailored to activate a release of endorphins. 
After leaving a massage, most people feel looser and more able to face their daily stressors. For people who need a pick-me-up, this works great. Regular massages make an excellent self-care regimen.
The bulk of the benefits from a spa massage are gained from the personal attention you receive. This type of massage is mostly a treat or a gift that you give yourself. This increases your feelings of wellbeing.  
However, little is done to combat or limit the damage of injury or chronic pain. For the treatment of these issues, medical massage offers a better pathway to wellness.
TechniqueSpa massages use some of the same overall techniques as those used in medical massage therapy.
The most common spa massages include Swedish, deep tissue, Shiatsu, and hot stone. Each of these requires different training but most are done in the same location, albeit by different staff. 
These massages are mostly surface-level and relieve tension in the upper tissues and fibers. Deep tissue massage, by its name, obviously goes deeper but does so by feel without directed intention. 
In a spa setting the goal of the treatment is to help you feel relaxed and well. This often leaves you feeling healthier and full of energy.
Medical Massage OverviewIn the case of a spa massage experience, you call the shots and the practitioner delivers the goods. While you remain at the center of a medical therapy massage, the process is different from the start.
You undergo an evaluation and are asked a variety of questions. If you have a referral from a general practice doctor, there may already be a treatment plan in the works requesting certain areas to target. It should be noted that a referral isn't necessary to begin a medical massage treatment course. 
The end goal is to help you overcome pain and injury but the process is far less linear than in a spa setting. The trade-off is that the results are also far more lasting. 
Medical CareOnce you receive an evaluation, a treatment plan is developed. Along with the plan the provider gives you a set of expectations. This includes a timeline for the overall treatment and an idea of what techniques they'll utilize during each visit. 
Since the purpose is to deal with an underlying problem, multiple techniques will be used in tandem. You won't necessarily get the same type of techniques in each session. Medical massage feels different than your usual full-body experience.
Targeted ResultsThe results you experience after a medical massage will be more specific, which often leads you to feel less euphoric after a visit. You'll also receive a set of exercises and a list of things to do (and not do) to prolong the effect and prevent further injury.
These after-care instructions certainly feel more like a doctor's visit than a typical spa day.
Medical massage therapy provides pain relief, especially in myofascial tissue. Range of motion in pulled muscles and areas that have been torn or sprained are specifically addressed by a medical massage. 
TechniqueTechniques used in medical massage therapy sometimes follow closely along those used in the spa, but you'll see a few new ones. 
The techniques you recognize only bear a superficial resemblance. Practitioners use these with specific, targeted purposes that affect the internal structures. For example, a Swedish technique is employed to open up blood flow and increase circulation. 
Deep tissue massage releases and loosens a muscle group so that adjustments become easier to make. This is done to relieve prolonged spasms, adjust improperly healing joints, or to relieve pressure on adjoining muscle groups and organs.
Cranial massage and ayurvedic treatments work to stimulate the mind as well as the body. These treatments are used to lower anxiety and the fear of dealing with issues. Fixating less on a problem helps your body heal without bogging it down.
EvaluationsSessions will involve a lot more back and forth while driving towards the end-goal of your overall health. This will include conversations about your condition, how you are feeling about the progress, and adjustments to the schedule as necessary.
Your ongoing results are compared to the expected progress. Be prepared to be held accountable for how well and how often you participate in the aftercare assignments.
ResultsAfter the first few sessions, you'll notice direct and lasting results. Since specific issues are being targeted, you have something to focus on and will be able to evaluate your progress. The goal is for you to be better not just feel better. 
This difference separates a lot of medical treatments from other wellness paths. Undergoing more traditional spa massage while participating in a medical massage treatment program is perfectly acceptable. 
Get MoreFor chronic pain, old injuries, and frequent limitations in range of motion, medical massage pushes for lasting relief. The work involved can feel taxing but that's often the price of complete health.
Get started today by contacting us. Fill out our form and get specific answers to your concerns. 

What Is Osteopathy and How Can It Help You?What is osteopathy and how can it help your overall health and well-being? Here's everything you need to know about osteopathic medicine and how it works.
Keyword(s): what is osteopathy

Chronic physical and mental health conditions account for 90 percent of the $3.5 trillion spent on health care in the United States each year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 20 percent of American adults live with chronic pain.
Do you have a health condition, suffer from pain or hope to avoid future medical problems? You may want to consider osteopathy.
What is osteopathy? It's a growing branch of medicine that is grabbing the attention of both patients and health practitioners.
Here's everything you need to know about osteopathy. We'll cover what it is, how it works, why patients prefer it and what to expect at your first appointment.
What Is Osteopathy?Osteopathy is its own branch of medicine in the United States. It's different from more traditional branches because it's holistic. Osteopaths understand the body's systems work together to make a unified, healthy whole. Their diagnostic and treatment approaches reflect this special value.
A Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine is known as a DO, which is a fully-licensed designation. Just like a traditional MD, or Medical Doctor, becoming a DO requires:

• Extensive graduate-level education
• Training (residency, fellowship)
• Tens of thousands of hours caring for patients

One in four American medical students are attending osteopathic medical school, according to the American Osteopathic Association. The association estimates DOs will make up more than 20 percent of the practicing physician population by 2030.
How Does Osteopathy Work?Osteopathy operates on the holistic principle that each part of the body is connected to form a whole. Everything must work well for you to feel healthy.
One of osteopathy's top tools is called Osteopathic Manual Medicine. This is a type of manual therapy. Doctors use hands-on techniques to diagnose and treat patients.
DOs prioritize manual medicine because they see the body's function and structure as working together. If the structure is out of line, body functions will also be off. Hands-on techniques focus on muscles, soft tissue, connective tissue, the head, the lymphatic system and more.
Because of this hands-on aspect, some people confuse DOs with chiropractors. Although chiropractors use their hands to adjust spines, they do not have nearly the same amount of training as DOs. Chiropractic care also focuses more on the spine rather than the entire body.
What Happens With Osteopathic Primary CareIf you have a DO or other osteopathic provider, you have a guardian of wellness on your side. Your doctor is helping you manage problems from a broad approach. He or she is also preventing issues from surfacing in your future.
Your provider understands how your lifestyle and environment impact your overall health. This is important because these are things that you can usually control. 
When you use osteopathic primary care, you can expect your practitioner to listen to you. He or she will do what it takes to get to the root of your health problems or concerns.
How Osteopathy Approaches Special Situations: Pain and Opioid Addiction TreatmentOsteopathic practitioners work in many specialties and have holistic approaches for many problems. Here are just a couple of examples.
Osteopathy's effectiveness in treating all sorts of pain is well established. Studies support its use for carpal tunnel, migraines and low back pain, to name a few. If you have any kind of pain, including headaches, a sports injury or irritable bowel, you may want to consider osteopathy.
Some osteopaths also have special approaches to dealing with addiction. This is a critical medical contribution. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says the opioid epidemic is a public health emergency.
If you're addicted to opioids or opiates, consider the benefits of combining osteopathic manipulative medicine with buprenorphine (suboxone) assisted treatment. Buprenorphine is an FDA-approved treatment that prevents withdrawal, treats pain and stops opioid and opiate cravings. You won't get a high or feel sedated. 

Why Choose Osteopathic Care?
Your body's parts and systems do not operate in isolation. Instead, every part of your body works as an integral aspect of your overall health. Osteopathy understands this and looks at the body as a whole. Neck pain is never just about the neck, and heart disease isn't a concern isolated to the heart.
Osteopathy's holistic view helps balance all systems to treat and prevent injury and disease. This approach emphasizes self-healing, not drugs or surgery. The treatments are not invasive and complement any traditional medical treatments you receive.
When you're looking for a DO, consider a clinic that offers complementary services, such as medical massage. Many patients find that massage helps their bodies prepare for Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine. Massage also can reduce muscle tension and regulate emotions, including anxiety. You'll be supporting your overall healing process.

What to Expect at Your First Appointment. 
Osteopathy is centered around the patient's needs. This means your provider will want to meet you before deciding on any treatments. Wear comfortable clothes that make it easy to move around.
Your provider will ask you to demonstrate some stretches and other movements. He or she will gently touch your joints, ligaments and tissues to see how they move. This will reveal any restrictions, tightness or tension that your treatments should target.
After your assessment, your provider will sit down with you to discuss your current concerns and future goals. Based on this assessment, you will receive a comprehensive proposed treatment plan. This will include the number of anticipated sessions.
Your treatment may include changes to make at home. These can include making adjustments to your diet, exercise routine, posture and habits. You may also receive advice on what you should do before and after future appointments. Be sure to follow through — that's how you will come to see the best results.
Try Osteopathy to Holistically Treat and Prevent Problems
​What is osteopathy? It may be the answer you're looking for. It can help you better manage an injury or health problem. It can also help prevent future issues and improve your general health.
To schedule an appointment in the Indianapolis area or learn more about what osteopathy can do for you, contact us today.