Osteopathy & Concentration

In the last 14 years I have seen many children with various levels of concentration problems, as part of a diagnosis (ADHD, Asperger’s, Autism...) but also without any other diagnosis. There are so many reasons for theses and so many of them can be helped/improved by osteopathic treatment at the clinic (we are not talking about cures here!).

• Imagine yourself with a head cold! Yes congestion in the sinuses and tension in the bones of the face after birth strain or regular infections can slow down the circulation and therefore the way the brain works.
• Now after a couple of sleepless night, how do you feel? Breathing restrictions due to mechanical restriction or injury, or even more as side effect of asthma (muscle shortening, spinal restriction, ribs mechanic restriction, posture) can also slow the general functioning. As much as an adult not sleeping, a child will also affect his/her growth and healing (capacity to adapt to strain and aggression in a sufficient way). The brain requires a lot of energy to function properly, think, memorise so deprivation can be the cause of lack of concentration.
• Otis Media/Glue ear: Blocked ears of course delay your understanding and over time make you tired and therefore unable to learn as much or as fast as the others in the class.
• How do you feel after you banged yours head? Yes concussion (not the one that you would need to go to the hospital) can affect the way the circulation around the brain works!!!!!

The previously mentioned diagnosis (Asperger’s, Autism) and various classified illnesses which also affect the smooth functioning of the growing body .In a growing child (and leaning child) the most minute alteration of their mechanisms could play havoc and worsen the symptoms already recognised and classified in their diagnosis, which mean very often it is taken for granted when it could be improved.

What can osteopathy do? Our aim is to improve functioning and restore it to its original. How does it work? We have various techniques we can use in order to

• Improve respiration mechanic (ribs, spine, head position, partial or total posture),
• Balance muscular tension around the chest, neck and jaw which in turn improve a mechanical drainage of lymph and blood,
• Reduce tension in part or all facial bone (sometime we may have to treat directly in the mouth to release the pallet and the sinuses). It can also the child’s teething process and in turn improve circulation around the jaw and the rest of the face,
• Improve general blood circulation around the neck and the brain and sometime all the way down the spine.

I remember the case of a 17 year old young man who had left school early and had major concentration problems. When he came to me in 2004 (I think) he was getting frustrated and almost violent with only the computer. On observation, he presented some reminisces of a major birth trauma which was affected natural breathing, blood circulation around the frontal lobe (behaviour and social interaction) and at the back of the head, drainage of the sinuses.

At the end of the first treatment I advise both him and his parents on what to expect as changes over the next 4 weeks. He returned very happy to claim that all I had predicted had improved and that he could now work out the computer and I seem to remember he was trying a jigsaw or a model plane. After another 3 treatments the change was so great that he decided to return to evening classes and try to catch up his education. Although it is so invigorating to be able to affect and improve one’s life like that one can only wander in frustration what would his education be if only I had seen him before 6 year of age.

 

Of course all treatments are on a case basis! Some of my past case noticed major improvement straight away with school teachers and other noticing changes too, other case more complex have improved less but also relapse or required maintenance.

But if you are interested to see if I could help you then why not booked an appointment and in the day we can discuss and assess if we can help. If I consider than you are not a case we can assist you will not be charged

Christophe Becquereau

(B.Sc Hons – Registered Osteopath – Principal at the Maple Tree Clinic)