Brisbane Osteopathic Centre

What is IBS and how can Osteopathy help? 

In Australia, it is estimated that one in five people will suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) at some point. Symptoms include bloating, abdominal pain, cramping, flatulence and alternating episodes of diarrhea and constipation. While IBS can occur at any age, it most commonly affects young adults. IBS is also more commonly found in women.

While IBS can cause a lot of discomfort and distress, it is not associated with permanent damage to the intestines or more serious conditions such as colon cancer. Although the exact cause of IBS is unknown, it is thought to be partially due to abnormal functioning of the muscular walls of the large intestine. Some of the known aggravating factors include emotional stress, infection and certain foods.

The large intestine (or the colon) is a large muscular tube that extracts water and salt from the digestive waste before being expelled from the body. Signals continuously moving back and forth between the bowel and the brain result in repeated contraction and relaxation of the muscles within the colon. This allows the waste product to be propelled down the length of the colon towards the rectum, where it is stored until a bowel motion occurs. This movement, known as gut 'motility', is important in maintaining regular bowel motion. In IBS sufferers, their intestines appear to be more sensitive to environmental stimuli (such as changes in routine, specific foods and stress). This can lead to muscle spasms that interfere with the guts natural motility, resulting in symptoms such as abdominal pain, cramping, diarrhea and constipation.

The autonomic nervous system is responsible for regulating many of the organs in the body (including the heart, lungs, liver, stomach and intestines). For the most part, we are unaware of the autonomic nervous system working as it functions in an involuntary, reflexive manner. When stressed, however, this function can become compromised, resulting in symptoms such as those associated with IBS.

Cranial osteopathy is a very gentle form of treatment that can alleviate many of these symptoms. Treatment helps to release tension in the surrounding tissues by balancing the autonomic nervous system and increasing blood flow to the area thus reducing spasms and encouraging regular movement of food through the digestive tract. Osteopathy can help to relieve some of the symptoms of stress, further easing the symptoms of IBS as well as helping to prevent future attacks.

 Faye Kendall (B.App.Sc (comp.med), M.Ost) is a registered Osteopath who works at the Brisbane Osteopathic Centre in Wilston.  More information on Osteopathy in the Cranial Field can be found at www.brisbaneosteopathic.com.au.