On July 17, a patient visited my practice for the first time due to complaints of an irregular heartbeat, which she had been suffering from since 2009. The constant restlessness and fatigue significantly impacted her daily life and were accompanied by understandable feelings of anxiety.
Within osteopathy, I view the body as a whole. Therefore, I examined which structures could potentially play a role in her complaints and why they had become unbalanced.
During the examination, it was noted that there was significant tension in the connective tissue behind the breastbone. From an osteopathic perspective, this could influence the area surrounding the nerves involved in regulating the heart.
During the consultation with the patient, it emerged that she had suffered a severe fall from her bicycle at the age of six. It is possible that this old injury still influenced the tension in the area around the breastbone.
It remains remarkable how the body adapts and attempts to recover, sometimes for years. Through treatment, we aim to provide the body with the space to find that balance once again.
I recently encountered a similar situation. In this case, complaints of restlessness and tension around the chest area also played a role. Later, the patient remembered—partly thanks to her twin sister—a significant fall at the age of twelve, during which her breastbone hit the handlebars and she even broke a tooth. This was an event she had largely forgotten herself, but which was potentially still affecting her body.
