What is the sense of touch?

Touch is a unified sensation created by many specialized sensors working together in parallel. If you look at your skin, described by neuroscientists as a Social Organ, it’s populated by millions of nerve endings that capture information from outside the body and then send it to the brain. Some nerves reach a specific part of the brain called the somatosensory cortex, also known as the discriminative system. This system gives us details of what we’re touching and where.

In addition to nerves reaching the somatosensory cortex, there are some nerves that travel to a completely different part of the brain called the posterior insular cortex. This area of the brain is part of our emotional system and is involved in our behavioral and emotional responses. Basically, what I want to say is that “there is no sensation without emotion”, your skin is your external nervous system.

When do we start to feel touch?

The sense of touch begins in the womb around the 8-week mark, and among the five senses (touch, taste, smell, hearing and sight), touch is the first to develop. Science has shown how it’s not just a matter of time but also, it’s a development priority; in fact, premature infants that are isolated in incubators exhibit a developmental delay, which is due to an inadequate or inappropriate sensory stimulation. But there’s more, it’s not just about biological development, touch deprivation in infants can lead to impaired growth and cognitive development, as well as an elevated incidence of serious infections and attachment disorders.

Why is touch so important in our social life?

As mentioned at the beginning, some scientists have called the skin a “social organ.” Intuitively, this makes sense: we both crave touch and are repulsed by it when it is unwanted, uninvited, or inappropriate. Even brief touches on a hand or arm can have tremendous effects.

Human behaviours involving physical touch have much more in common with the social grooming activities we’d typically associate with other species. When monkeys pick through their friends’ fur, they’re not just helping them remove dirt and parasites from hard-to-reach spots. There is undoubtedly a hygienic benefit, but this behaviour, which animal behaviour researchers call “allogrooming”, has far greater significance. According to anthropologist Robin Dunbar, grooming stimulates the release of endorphins – opiates produced by the brain that trigger feelings of relaxation. This is accomplished by lowering the heart rate, reducing over-nervous behaviours like scratching, and even bringing on sleep. Touch reflects our culture; it regulates our social relationships and helps us communicate.

What’s the meaning of touch in my daily practice?

Touch is the core of my clinical practice because it’s a powerful form of communication. Hearing your story, getting a sense of what matters to you, and observing what is held in the tissues allow me to examine and trace where your body has been keeping the score.

Osteopathic Manual Practitioners are well known for their well-developed touch (palpation) and ability to assess, treat and monitor how the body has been adapting throughout your life. Thus, Osteopathic Treatment is based on the principles of body unity and the interrelationship between structure and function. This approach emphasizes the integration of the musculoskeletal system with the whole body, such as the visceral and craniosacral system, and the influences that the impaired function of each has on the other. Most Osteopathic Techniques aim to reduce tissue tension, help to improve motion, function, and flow of liquid and decrease neurological sensitization; the decision-making of which techniques to use is tailored to your needs to achieve better function. 

Need more information? Have Questions? Get in touch!

If you have any questions regarding an Osteopathic Practitioners use of Touch and how it may help you, click here, or reach Stephanie at smckayscharfl@gmail.com

Osteopathic Practitioners do not diagnose or practice medicine, nor do I attempt to treat disease. If you are concerned about any medical pathology and/or disease, always consult your physician before exploring Osteopathic Manual Therapy.

Osteopathy offers a rewarding career path to those with an interest in helping others and a curiosity to learn more about anatomy and physiology. Osteopathy focuses on promoting the structural alignment of all layers of the body to facilitate the body’s ability to self-heal and self-regulate. In the process, it helps to strengthen the body’s framework as a form of complementary therapy.

If you’re considering training as an manual osteopath, you may be wondering if this career path is right for you. Combining problem-solving and people skills, osteopathy is a great choice for those looking for a dynamic, hands-on profession in the healthcare field. Below, take a look at what to expect from a career as an osteopathy manual practitioner.

1. The Profession is Growing Rapidly

Osteopathy is one of the fastest-growing healthcare professions in Canada, with the demand for skilled professionals expected to increase over the next 10 years. This is partly due to the growing awareness of the benefits of osteopathy, with many insurance plans expanding their coverage to include osteopathic treatments. By working with the interrelated systems and functions of the human body, osteopathic manual therapy can return the body to normal health so it can self-heal and self-regulate. This can be a particularly valuable treatment for those recovering from sports injuries and other physical dysfunctions. 

Population aging is also expected to increase the demand for physical rehabilitation services following surgeries and accidents. As an manual osteopath, you’ll be ready to apply your understanding of anatomy and physiology to promote self-healing in all kinds of patients.

2. Program Pathways for All Educational Backgrounds

If your background is not in anatomy or healthcare, the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy offers a Year 1 Prep course that is specially designed for you to learn or review essential anatomy and physiology content before beginning Year 1 of the program. This is the perfect choice for those without a background in health care or with limited experience in health care, such as personal trainers, pilates or yoga instructors and nutritionists. 

After building a foundation in anatomy and physiology, students will go on to our four-year osteopathic education program. Here, you’ll not only learn practical, osteopathic techniques but also the founding principles and theory that those techniques rely on. Through a comprehensive program, students of all abilities will be on the path to becoming osteopathy professionals.

3. It Takes Hard Work to Become an Osteopathic Manual Practitioner 

Dedication and commitment underlie work as an osteopathic manual practitioner. There are no shortcuts to success in this field. This makes it a highly rewarding career for students with a genuine curiosity to improve their understanding of functional anatomy and a passion for helping others. 

When you become an manual osteopath, you’ll combine your knowledge of osteopathic theory and practice to assess a patient’s physical condition. You’ll then be responsible for proposing an individualized treatment plan to meet their needs. Through a principles-based approach combined with supervised clinical training, students at the CAO will get the first-hand experience they need to practice safe, effective and ethical manual osteopathy in their career.

4. You’ll Treat Much More Than Pain

Osteopathic manual practitioners take a holistic, whole-body approach to healthcare. Using manual techniques, osteopathic manual practitioners can provide complementary treatments to patients experiencing physical dysfunctions. But an osteopathic manual practitioner does not concentrate solely on the problem area. Instead, they work to balance all the body systems and to promote overall good health and wellbeing in their patients. With our dynamic training program, you’ll feel confident to treat the layers of the body on a personalized, individual level. 

The first thing to know is that manual osteopathy is a gentle, hands-on technique. By manipulating the alignment of muscles, bones, and joints, manual osteopathy helps remove obstructions throughout the body. This helps fluids such as blood and lymph flow easily, helps with balance and alignment, and improves the body’s self-healing capabilities.