1
History
Ghassan asks what hurts, what you have already tried, relevant history, and what you want to get back to doing.
What is osteopathy?
A hands-on approach that looks at your body as a connected system and focuses on what may be limiting movement.
Osteopathy is manual therapy that assesses and treats movement restrictions in joints, muscles, fascia, and related tissues.
The goal is to improve movement and address contributing restrictions rather than focusing only on the place that hurts.
Ghassan works as a Manual Osteopath (DOMP) in Ontario. He does not prescribe medication or perform surgery. He assesses, treats, and refers when something falls outside osteopathic care.
How it can help
- Increase range of motion
- Reduce joint pain and stiffness
- Ease neck and back problems related to posture or strain
- Relieve many tension-type headaches
- Support recovery after sport, work, or a motor-vehicle injury
- Decrease unnecessary muscle tone and tension
- Help you move with better awareness and alignment
What happens at a visit
2
Assessment
He looks at posture, movement, and relevant areas through motion testing and palpation.
3
Plan
He explains what he found and what he recommends.
4
Treatment
Hands-on techniques are selected for your presentation. You should always feel comfortable speaking up if anything is too much.
5
After
You may receive simple guidance for the next 24–48 hours and a recommendation about whether follow-up makes sense.
What to wear. Wear shorts and a T-shirt or comfortable athletic clothing that allows you to move.
Techniques
For chronic pain and TMJ disorders, Ghassan may use muscle energy techniques, joint mobilization, and soft-tissue manipulation. Not every technique is used at every visit.
- Muscle Energy Techniques (MET)
- Joint mobilization
- Soft-tissue manipulation
- Myofascial work
- Strain-counterstrain
- Visceral and cranial techniques, when indicated
- FST and Graston when they are the better tools for the situation
What does DOMP mean?
In Canada, a Manual Osteopath (DOMP) practices osteopathic manual therapy. This is different from a U.S. Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.), who is a physician.
A DOMP in Ontario does not prescribe medication or perform surgery as a physician does.
“I started seeing Ghassan for chronic pain, headaches, and shoulder and back pain. Since then the pain has significantly reduced. I have been to physio and chiro without the same results.”