In 35 chapters written by the editors and a team of internationally renowned contributors the book covers the underlying principles of osteopathic palpation from a biodynamic and 'morphodynamic' perspective, and their application in the cranial field and the spinal cord. It emphasises the importance of considering not just the patient's physical self, but also the inner consciousness. It teaches how to assess tissue-energy characteristics, and to use this understanding in managing the whole patient. The work discusses biophysical, neurobiological and psychological interactions as well as the interplay of developmental dynamics and further epigenetic influences on the organism. As well as the primary respiratory mechanism, various biological rhythms play an important role within osteopathic treatment; the book explores new insights that flow from chronobiology and rhythm research. All osteopathic practice develops on conceptual foundations. Acknowledging the importance in the practice of osteopathy of such theoretical underpinning, the book discusses osteopathy with regard to the development of paradigms within the healing arts as well as from various philosophical viewpoints - such as postmodern, system-theoretical, Goethian and phenomenological. It examines thoroughly the multi-layered dynamics of development of human beings interacting with their environment. The resulting implications for therapeutic interaction as well as principles of diagnosis and treatment form the core of the book. These fundamental principles are then specifically applied to the cranial sphere. This section focuses primarily on the treatment of the brain, as well as the developmental dynamics of the relations of the midline, cranial bones, dural structures, vessels and cranial nerves.
Torsten Liem MSc DO is Joint Principal of the German School of Osteopathy, a practising osteopath, lecturer in cranial osteopathy and head of several osteopathic MSc-programmes in Germany and Europe. He is the author and editor of several books and has written numerous articles. Torsten Liem is organiser of the international osteopathy symposia in Berlin; founder of an osteopathic teaching clinic and of the charitably financed centre for paediatric osteopathy in Hamburg. A board member of the German and European Societies of Pediatric Osteopathy, Torsten Liem is also co-founder and coeditor of the journal Osteopathische Medizin (Elsevier), member of the Advisory Board of the International Journal of Osteopathic Medicine, and co-founder of Breathe Yoga. His core vision is the implementation of osteopathic principles in practice, and connecting them with the principles of classical Chinese medicine and yoga, and with psychological and energetic aspects.
Forewords Prefaces Contributors 1 Paradigms of healing Torsten Liem 2 The osteopathic object - reloaded Peter Sommerfeld 3 Biological rhythms and their significance in osteopathy Torsten Liem, Maximilian Moser 4 Physical principles Lorenz Fischer 5 Neurobiological principles Lorenz Fischer 6 The effect of formative and regulatory forces on living organisms Torsten Liem 7 Regulatory forces in embryology Torsten Liem 8 The role of mechanical stresses in embryonic development Lev V. Beloussov 9 Developmental patterns and adaptive organization of body functioning Patrick van den Heede and Anne Jakel 10 The incarnating embryo - the embryo in us Jaap van der Wal, Guus van der Bie 11 Prenatal and perinatal worlds of experience Ludwig Janus 12 Evolution of the mind-body-spirit unit James McGovern and Rene J. McGovern 13 Touch as a therapeutic intervention Tsafi Lederman with contributions from Eyal Lederman 14 What is health? What is disease? Thoughts on a complex issue Torsten Liem, Matthias Flatscher 15 Somatic dysfunction and compensation Torsten Liem, Michael M. Patterson, Jochen Fruhwein 16 Thoughts on the significance of systems theory for osteopathic diagnosis and therapy Peter Sommerfeld 17 The osteopathic experience of fulcrums and the emergence of stillness Stephen Paulus 18 Principles of diagnosis Torsten Liem 19 The practitioner and the therapeutic interaction Torsten Liem and Michael Habecker 20 Treatment principles Torsten Liem 21 Total rhythmic balanced interchange according to Becker Torsten Liem 22 Midline - Development and introduction Torsten Liem 23 Hyoid bone and anterior midline Patrick van den Heede and Anne Jakel 24 The fluid body Torsten Liem 25 Energy bodies Torsten Liem 26 Chakra system related to pre- and perinatal dynamics Terence Dowling 27 Development of the cranium and an outline of the growth dynamics of the cranial bones Torsten Liem with the contributions by Marie-Odile Fessenmayer 28 Intraosseous techniques Torsten Liem 29 Developmental dynamic approaches to treating the head, dura, diaphragm, neck and pharyngeal arches Torsten Liem 30 Development of the senses Brian Freeman 31 The brain as a morphogenetic field Patrick van den Heede, Rudiger Goldstein and Torsten Liem 32 Osteopathic brain and spinal cord assessments Bruno Chikly, Torsten Liem 33 Treating the brain Bruno Chikly, Torsten Liem 34 Treating the spinal cord Bruno Chikly, Torsten Liem 35 Treating the autonomic and peripheral nervous systems Torsten Liem, Bruno Chikly 36 Developmental patterns and influence upon body organisation Patrick van den Heede and Torsten Liem, 37 Polyvagal theory Stephen Porges 38 An osteopathic approach to the treatment of trauma and emotional integration Torsten Liem
