Inhibition of various regions along the spinal column is frequently
given by the osteopath to lessen pain. It is only a temporary or
palliative treatment, but many times gives great relief. One should
inhibit usually over tender points and contracted muscles. These
(tender points and contracted muscles) are signs to the osteopath that
disturbances exist at these points. The following table is taken from
Quain, which is Head’s classification:
=Heart.=—First, second and third dorsals.
=Lungs.=—First, second, third, fourth and fifth dorsals.
=Stomach.=—Sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth dorsals. Cardiac end from
sixth and seventh. Pyloric end from ninth.
=Intestines.=—(a) Down to upper part of rectum, ninth, tenth, eleventh
and twelfth dorsals. (b) Rectum, second, third and fourth sacrals.
=Liver and Gall-bladder.=—Sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth
dorsals.
=Kidney and Ureter.=—Tenth, eleventh and twelfth dorsals. Upper part
of ureter, tenth dorsal. At lower end of ureter, first lumbar tends to
appear.
=Bladder.=—(a) Mucous membrane and neck of bladder; (first) second,
third and fourth sacrals; (b) over distension and ineffectual
contraction, eleventh and twelfth dorsals, and first lumbar.
=Prostate.=—Tenth, eleventh (twelfth) dorsals. First, second and third
sacrals, and fifth lumbar.
=Epididymis.=—Eleventh and twelfth dorsals and first lumbar.
=Testis.=—Tenth dorsal.
=Ovary.=—Tenth dorsal.
=Appendages, etc.=—Eleventh and twelfth dorsals, first lumbar.
=Uterus.=—(a) In contraction, tenth, eleventh and twelfth dorsals, and
first lumbar. (b) Os uteri; (first) second, third and fourth sacrals
(fifth lumbar very rarely).
Other points are used by the osteopath to relieve pain of certain
regions, for such the reader is referred to the article on neuralgia;
besides many tender points are found along the spine by the osteopath,
where inhibition gives relief to the patient, provided such points have
a connection with the case in question.
Hot fomentations if property applied, through reciprocal relationship
of the nervous system, are of value in relieving pain, releasing
spastic musculature and normalizing visceral function. Frequently,
in both acute and chronic cases, this is an excellent preparatory
measure, to be followed by careful adjustment. It will be recalled
that the functional test, movement of a vertebral lesion is of primary
consideration.[39]