Osteopathy, psychological trauma and the road of resilience
Object
Titel
Osteopathy, psychological trauma and the road of resilience
Author(s)
F. Peniguel
Abstract
The motivation for this qualitative literature review came from a desire to increase awareness of psychological trauma and its physiological effects, and the possible role that osteopathy could play as a complementary therapy in trauma treatment. This was done by researching the physiology of the trauma response, which provided valuable direction to the study. Inspiration was taken from the polyvagal approach to trauma, and the concept of trauma being about the response, and not the event.
The benefits and disadvantages of various therapies are discussed, including both top- down and bottom-up approaches, and what their contributions to trauma recovery are. Additionally, this review explores past and present collaborations between osteopathy and psychology and suggests what possible benefits there are in further joint efforts between the two in relation to trauma therapy outcome and research.
Consideration of more objective forms of measurement in trauma therapy and research, such as heart rate variability, takes into account not only the subjective feedback, but also the physiological components of the trauma response and autonomic activity, and its value as a possible marker of resilience. The question is posed of whether enhancing resilience may assist in trauma recovery, and in reducing susceptibly to future adversities, and what role osteopathy may play in the facilitation of resilience. This article also examines the state of available resources and training concerning trauma within osteopathy, and whether or not osteopaths are sufficiently equipped to treat people with a history of trauma, and deal with their responses.
The findings of this literature review revealed that osteopathy may be a valuable form of complementary therapy in recovering from trauma, and play a role in preventing the development of trauma disorders, due to its whole-person approach, and through the facilitation of the parasympathetic activity and interoceptive awareness, optimising the self-regulation capacity. Due to this, osteopathy may help in enhancing resilience and thereby decrease susceptibility to future adversity. More research is needed in this area, however.
Increasing awareness of psychological trauma within the osteopathic field through trauma-informed care and training in undergraduate and postgraduate osteopathic education would benefit both therapist and patient. The collaboration between osteopathy and psychotherapy proves potentially beneficial for therapy outcome, addressing both top-down and bottom-up processing of trauma, and focusing on the health and resilience of the person rather than the pathology or diagnostic term.
The benefits and disadvantages of various therapies are discussed, including both top- down and bottom-up approaches, and what their contributions to trauma recovery are. Additionally, this review explores past and present collaborations between osteopathy and psychology and suggests what possible benefits there are in further joint efforts between the two in relation to trauma therapy outcome and research.
Consideration of more objective forms of measurement in trauma therapy and research, such as heart rate variability, takes into account not only the subjective feedback, but also the physiological components of the trauma response and autonomic activity, and its value as a possible marker of resilience. The question is posed of whether enhancing resilience may assist in trauma recovery, and in reducing susceptibly to future adversities, and what role osteopathy may play in the facilitation of resilience. This article also examines the state of available resources and training concerning trauma within osteopathy, and whether or not osteopaths are sufficiently equipped to treat people with a history of trauma, and deal with their responses.
The findings of this literature review revealed that osteopathy may be a valuable form of complementary therapy in recovering from trauma, and play a role in preventing the development of trauma disorders, due to its whole-person approach, and through the facilitation of the parasympathetic activity and interoceptive awareness, optimising the self-regulation capacity. Due to this, osteopathy may help in enhancing resilience and thereby decrease susceptibility to future adversity. More research is needed in this area, however.
Increasing awareness of psychological trauma within the osteopathic field through trauma-informed care and training in undergraduate and postgraduate osteopathic education would benefit both therapist and patient. The collaboration between osteopathy and psychotherapy proves potentially beneficial for therapy outcome, addressing both top-down and bottom-up processing of trauma, and focusing on the health and resilience of the person rather than the pathology or diagnostic term.
Date Created
November 2020
Type
Literatuuronderzoek
number of pages
113