Exploration of the Respiratory and Digestive Systems in Paediatric Osteopathic Practice

Every day in osteopathic practice, children present with respiratory and digestive illnesses and their signs and symptoms. The two systems are inextricably interconnected through musculoskeletal mechanics, the immune system of lymphatic tissue, the visceral and autonomic nervous systems and interconnecting blood supply.

Our increasing understanding of digestive health and the gut biome supports the responses within the respiratory system in allergic or infective processes.
 Respiratory presentations may range from a runny nose and rhinovirus to pneumonia, asthma and bronchiolitis. These account for the highest cause of emergency department presentations and hospital admission for children with respiratory symptoms and disease.


We may see children with respiratory symptoms as the infection is developing, in full-blown presentation or after acute episodes, perhaps leading into chronic respiratory presentations.
 It is our responsibility as osteopaths caring for children to recognise what needs urgent referral to the hospital or whether the child can be managed at home with the proper guidelines for the family. Osteopathy can offer supportive care during some infections and post-infective treatment to aid recovery, supporting the lymphatic and immune systems with the return to good respiratory mechanics.


Digestive issues can present very early in children whether they are breastfed, formula fed or mixed milk fed. Also, we must consider the transition to family foods, requiring adaptation of the oral mechanics of sucking, swallowing and increasing digestive demands. These changes may affect the upper digestive tract with regurgitation, wind and reflux; the lower bowel with constipation or diarrhoea; the immune system with symptoms reflected in the skin, behaviour, respiratory tract, Ear Nose and Throat presentations and ongoing digestive complications. Gastro-oesophageal reflux may often commence as early as three weeks of age. Why is it so prevalent? How do we recognise it? When should we be referring, and how does osteopathy support this condition with hands-on treatment?



In this respiratory and digestive course, we will explore the most common presentations in the paediatric population. We will cover assessment, recognition, differential diagnosis, and referral criteria and explore osteopathic treatment approaches. We will also discuss the most common allopathic treatments and how to support the families to use these as indicated. The course will be held over three days and divided between lecture presentations and practical sessions using osteopathy in the cranial field, balanced ligamentous tension, myofascial release and visceral approaches to the respiratory and digestive mechanics, the autonomic nervous system, lymphatic system and immune support.

Julie has over 40 years of osteopathic practice in the care of infants and children. She will share her clinical experience of treating children presenting with digestive and respiratory conditions as well as her anatomy and physiology knowledge and the latest research findings in the digestive and respiratory systems.