Obstetrics technique practise

Below are my attendance forms to my lectures in obstetrics and osteopathy,

Applying the technique used to assess leg length discrepancy with a patient, 

 the diaphragm release/stretch technique - which can be applied to pregnant women and can be beneficial due to the poor mechanisms of the diaphragm resulting from pregnancy and pressure/restriction produced due to the foetus

 the 8 finger soft tissue technique

 modified posterior SIJ high velocity thrust - as a pregnant woman would not be able to roll on to her front to carry out this technique

 seated soft tissue of the erector spinae muscles - effective and removes the need for the patient to lie prone as the patient would be pregnant and unable to do so

 periscapular muscles soft tissue, using the patients arm to reinforce and direct treatment to specific tissues, muscles and articulation of the shoulder complex

IMS practise and clinical application

Involuntary Movement System practise, attendance and clinical practise. I recently had a headache patient and have applied frontal lift technique in order to elevate his symptoms. There has been an improvement as he has been able to have no headache post treatment for upto 3 days. Prior to treatment the patient would suffer from headaches on a daily occurance.

I attempted to perform balance tension at the sacrum on a patient who experienced pain shooting along her sacrum. She had adhesions removed and this also gave me an opportunity to attempt this technique in order to see if this would relieve her symptoms. 

Applying Functional technique in clinic

One of my goals is to apply the techniques I've learnt in my electives onto patients and seeing if they are effective both to myself and my patient. So far so good! Both times when applying functional technique I felt a positive tissue response and the patient has also reported feeling a positive change. Will have to reassess next week and see how long it holds

New patient clinic

Yesterday morning I experienced new patient clinic (NPC). This involves taking a new patient and having one of your peers observe and make notes about how you were with the patient from general case history taking to treatment and professionalism.


Overall I was happy with my comments and in general agreed with what I needed to work on. I learnt about how to differentiate between a facet, disc and sacro-iliac joint.

This carried on nicely into my obstetrics elective where I further learnt how to differentiate between the three. Looking forward to applying my new knowledge on the next patient that presents with a lower back pain. Wonder how long I'll have to wait for that patient :oP

My first taste of the electives

Chose Functional technique and Osteopathy and Obstetrics which I am partaking in for this Autumn term and already they have had an effect on my technique when treating patients. We learnt to percuss (tapping?!) the vertebrae to detect a difference in tissue response, and found myself doing that the very next time I was in clinic. Obstetrics also left its mark, opening my mind to the many ways to treat patients rather than just on their back, front or sidelying. Using the 8 finger soft tissue technique too which my patients seem to respond well to. Looking forward to seeing what else will be taught!