If you live with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), you probably know the pattern: a meal that seemed fine yesterday leaves you bloated, cramping or hurrying to the washroom today. It is tiring, and it is easy to feel like you have tried everything. Manual osteopathy is one option some people add to their care. Here is what it involves, what the research does and does not show, and where it fits.
What is IBS?
IBS is a long-term condition of the digestive tract. The US National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) describes it as a group of symptoms that occur together, including repeated pain in the abdomen and changes in bowel movements, which may be diarrhea, constipation or both. Bloating is common too. With IBS, these symptoms happen without visible signs of damage or disease in the digestive tract.
There is no single test for IBS. A doctor diagnoses it from your pattern of symptoms and rules out other conditions. If you are newly diagnosed, the Canadian Digestive Health Foundation has a plain-language overview.
Check with your doctor first
Before you book anything else, make sure a doctor has looked at your symptoms. NIDDK lists symptoms that may suggest a different health problem instead of IBS: anemia, bleeding from the rectum, bloody stools or stools that are black and tarry, and weight loss. If you notice any of these, talk to your doctor promptly.
A manual osteopathic practitioner does not diagnose IBS, order tests or prescribe medication. Their work sits alongside your doctor's care, not in place of it.
What is manual osteopathy?
Manual osteopathy is a hands-on therapy. Practitioners use gentle techniques such as joint articulation, myofascial work, craniosacral therapy and visceral manipulation, which uses light, guided pressure on the abdomen. In Canada, manual osteopathic practitioners are different from osteopathic physicians (DOs) trained in the United States, who are medical doctors.
At The Healing Oak, Dr. Raj Salaria, DOMP, offers manual osteopathic therapy at our Chilliwack and Abbotsford clinics. His profile lists digestive health among his areas of focus and visceral manipulation among his techniques.
What does the research say?
The evidence is early. A 2014 systematic review in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association looked at five randomized trials with 204 people who had IBS. All five reported more short-term improvement with osteopathic treatment than with sham treatment or standard care alone, and in three trials the difference was still there at follow-up. The authors called this preliminary evidence and asked for caution, because there were few studies and they were small.
Those trials were run by osteopaths outside Canada, so the results may not carry over exactly to every practitioner. In plain terms, manual osteopathy may help some people with IBS feel better, but the research is not strong enough to say it works for most people, and it does not make IBS go away.
What happens at a visit?
Your first appointment usually starts with questions about your symptoms, your medical history, what you eat, how you sleep and how stressed you have been. The practitioner then looks at how you move and may gently assess your abdomen, back and ribs before any treatment. You can ask for lighter pressure, or to stop, at any point. Session lengths vary.
There is no set number of visits. Talk with your practitioner about what you hope will change, then check in after a few sessions and decide together whether it is helping.
What else helps with IBS?
Most people manage IBS with a mix of approaches. According to NIDDK, your doctor may suggest:
- •Changes to what you eat, such as more fibre, avoiding gluten, or a short-term eating plan called the low FODMAP diet
- •More physical activity, enough sleep and fewer stressful situations where you can manage it
- •Medicines for diarrhea, constipation or pain in the abdomen
- •Probiotics, which researchers are still studying for IBS (talk with your doctor before you start one)
- •Mental health therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), gut-directed hypnotherapy or relaxation training
If diet changes feel overwhelming, a nutrition practitioner can help you plan meals that suit you. At The Healing Oak, diet and nutrition support is available in Chilliwack and Abbotsford. If stress and IBS feed each other for you, counselling may help too. For more on the gut and mood, read our post on microbiome diversity and mental health.
Booking manual osteopathy at The Healing Oak
You do not need a doctor's referral to book manual osteopathy with us. Some extended health plans ask for one before they reimburse a claim, so check your plan. Session lengths vary. Fees vary by practitioner. Confirm the fee when you book. Direct billing depends on the practitioner. Ask when you book.
You can book with Dr. Salaria at our Chilliwack or Abbotsford clinic, read more about manual osteopathic therapy, or see what to expect at a first manual osteopathy visit.
This article is general information, not medical or psychological advice. For advice about your situation, talk to a qualified practitioner.