Osteopathy
Osteopathy explained by Alexandra Vivès: principles, indications, what happens during a session and contraindications. Osteopathy practice in Aix-en-Provence and Cadenet.
A whole-body approach to women’s health
Osteopathy is a manual therapy that aims to improve the mobility of the body’s different structures in order to support its natural capacity to adapt.
Every woman goes through particular stages of life, the menstrual cycle, trying to conceive, pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause or menopause, which can come with physical, hormonal and emotional changes. My approach takes all of these dimensions into account in order to offer whole-person, personalised care.
At my practices in Aix-en-Provence and Cadenet, I combine osteopathy with tools from traditional Chinese medicine to support women’s health and wellbeing, alongside medical care where needed.
The principles of osteopathy
The body is a whole
The body works through the constant interaction of the joints, muscles, fascia, organs, breathing, nervous system and the various tissues.
Pain is not always linked solely to the area that hurts. My role is to assess the body as a whole in order to identify the restrictions in mobility that may be contributing to your symptoms.
Restoring mobility
Osteopathy uses appropriate manual techniques to improve the mobility of the joints, muscles, fascia, organs and, where indicated, the cranium.
The choice of techniques always depends on your reason for consulting, your state of health and your comfort.
Supporting the body’s capacity to adapt
The body has a considerable capacity to adapt. When certain strains become too great or persist over time, they can lead to pain or functional discomfort.
The aim of osteopathy is to support the body so that it regains a more harmonious way of functioning and a better capacity to adapt.
When to consult?
I mainly support women with:
- back, pelvic and neck pain;
- functional disorders linked to the menstrual cycle;
- pelvic pain;
- trying to conceive and assisted reproduction journeys;
- pregnancy and postpartum;
- perimenopause and menopause;
- sleep disorders;
- stress and emotional load;
- heavy legs, water retention and lymphatic drainage.
I also see patients for common osteopathic complaints, in particular:
- migraines and tension headaches;
- functional digestive disorders (bloating, acid reflux, constipation);
- jaw pain (TMJ);
- joint and muscle pain.
What happens during a consultation?
A consultation lasts about 45 minutes to 1 hour.
Time to listen
Each session begins with a conversation to understand your reason for consulting, your history, your lifestyle and your expectations.
An osteopathic assessment
I assess the mobility of the body’s different structures to identify the tensions and adaptations that may be involved in your symptoms.
Personalised treatment
The techniques used are always adapted to your situation. They may be articular, muscular, myofascial, visceral or cranial.
The consultation ends with personalised advice, where relevant, to prolong the benefits of the session.
Contraindications
Some situations require prior medical advice or referral to another health professional. This is the case, in particular, for certain acute infections, recent fractures, medical emergencies or conditions requiring specific care.
In the event of sudden, intense or unusual pain, it is advisable to consult your doctor or the emergency services promptly.
How often should you consult?
How often you consult depends on your reason for consulting and your needs.
Some one-off situations call for one or two sessions. Others, such as a fertility journey, a pregnancy or a period of hormonal change, may justify more regular support, always adapted to your situation.
The aim is to offer you personalised follow-up, alongside your medical care where necessary.