How to cure the spine and joints without surgery: an interview with the author of the unique technique “Osteorhythmics Spain” Sergey Orlov

In today’s world, problems with the spine and joints have become almost the norm for many people. Sedentary lifestyle, stress, improper workload and even psychological state – all this imperceptibly but persistently harms our health. That is why it is especially valuable that there are specialists who not only help people relieve pain, but also give a new quality of life. Serhii Orlov is one such master of his craft, a Kharkiv chiropractor, kinesitherapist and osteopath. Thanks to his knowledge and methods of treatment, people feel that a fulfilling life is not a dream, but a reality.

Serhiy Orlov created a unique patented technique called “Spine Osteorhythms”, which revolutionizes the concept of treatment of the spine and joints. This innovative technique has already helped thousands of patients to return to an active and healthy life. His approach helps restore the health of the spine and joints in both adults and children, and has been a real lifesaver for many soldiers who have survived wounds and injuries.

In an exclusive interview for IA “FACT”, Serhii Orlov opens the curtain on the art of recovery, talking about his methodology. He shares his own vision of spine and joint health, provides useful advice, reveals the secrets of preventing diseases of the musculoskeletal system and explains why timely body care is an investment in longevity.

Serhiy Ihorovych, how did you come to create your treatment method? Was it a long journey or did the inspiration come immediately?

Creating my methodology is a real marathon, not a sprint. This path was and remains a long process where I am constantly learning, experimenting and improving. On the one hand, certain ideas appeared quickly, as if inspiration found me. But on the other hand, each new stage was the result of deep analysis, practice and the desire to achieve better results for their patients.

I constantly study different approaches to treatment and rehabilitation, follow new research, and most importantly, carefully analyze the results of my practical work. I add some techniques, discard others over time, but in general, I have my own unique “protocol”, which I would rather call a template or an algorithm. It works effectively, and I am sure that it has no analogues. Perhaps there are similar approaches, but certainly not identical.

It is important that I created my methodology also thanks to the experience of my own treatment. Once I suffered a closed brain injury, I was unconscious for five days. And strangely enough, it was the chiropractor who helped me come back to life. Later, I had problems with my back and heels, which prevented me from walking and working properly. No treatment helped, so I started looking for a way out on my own. As a result, I rehabilitated myself and found my own way of treating patients.

They say that getting to your appointment is a great luck. There are real legends about your method of treatment and rehabilitation of patients. What is its uniqueness?

Her uniqueness lies in her creative approach. I have combined elements of several powerful techniques – massage, manual therapy, kinesiotherapy and osteopathy – into one holistic approach. This mix allows you to achieve impressive results, because I take the best from each direction and adapt it to a specific person. This is not just a technique, but the result of constant rationalization. It is important to me that each technique works not only in theory, but also shows long-term practical effectiveness. Therefore, I continue to refine my approach while remaining open to new ideas.

In addition, I have officially patented my technique, I have the “Osteorithmika Spine” trademark. This is an important step that emphasizes its uniqueness. That is, there are really no analogues of my technique, which makes it truly exclusive in the field of manual therapy and kinesiotherapy.

My approach is to use different techniques, where I have combined all the best, it all works in harmony. He worked for quite a long time in hospital conditions, in special medicine. This is not just a set of techniques or experiments, but the result of many years of practice. For example, when I combine different massage techniques, it does not make them “non-traditional”. Everything I use has an evidence base and a clear effect on the body.

For 30 years, more than 100,000 people have passed through my hands. And this is a great experience that I implemented in my method. This is not just a “mix” of techniques, but a holistic model based on knowledge, practice and understanding of the human body. I believe that the combination of traditional medicine, modern approaches and this method has a great future.

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Do you use rigid techniques of therapeutic massage, manual and kinesiotherapy? After all, many specialists work too aggressively, sometimes causing their patients more harm than good.

This is a very valid question. I will even say more. As a child, I heard a lot about the legendary osteopath Mykola Kasyan, the founder of manual therapy in the USSR and Ukraine. His name was literally surrounded by myths. People said that he received up to 250 patients a day, and real miracles happened: someone got up from a wheelchair, someone started walking again. But there were other stories along with it. Although he did help many, some complained that his technique was traumatic, and in some cases even harmful.

My method is fundamentally different. I refused to take a rigid approach that could scare patients or cause additional problems. My patients trust me, and I work so that this trust is justified. When I first started working in the hospital, I did classical massage and quickly realized that it was not enough. Treatment requires a comprehensive approach that takes into account the individuality of each person.

I studied with many talented specialists, in particular with Tamara Pavlivna Bilousova, a rehabilitator and professor, who has her own unique author’s methods. She showed me the importance of treating treatment as an art, where manual therapy, rehabilitation and modern medical approaches work together, but in no way rigidly.

Rehabilitation in manual therapy aims to readjust the muscle chains and restore the musculoskeletal system. But this is only the beginning. Without support, such as physical therapy or fitness, the result may be temporary. That’s why I always emphasize: treatment should be comprehensive. These are the hands of a specialist, drug therapy, physical exercises, and most importantly, a person’s desire to change his life. I am convinced that masking the problem with drugs or constantly taking drugs is the wrong way to health. Only complex treatment can give a stable and long-lasting result.

Patients say that your unique technique allows you to even increase height. Is it really so?

I will clarify right away – I do not “increase” height in the literal sense, but I help a person to return his body to a normal physiological state. This happens thanks to the restoration of the correct operation of the musculoskeletal system.

My technique is aimed at complex work with muscles, ligaments, tendons and fascia. I work to eliminate the rotation or displacement of the joints that can occur over time due to improper loading or chronic impairment. As a result, a person begins to occupy the correct position in space, that is, one that corresponds to his natural anatomy. This can really affect height, as a straightened spine or corrected scoliosis helps a person reach their maximum possible body length.

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How do you approach each patient depending on the disease or injury?

Each person is unique, and this is the basis of my approach. I specialize in the treatment of the musculoskeletal system: hernias, protrusions, scoliosis, vegetative-vascular disorders, etc. are what I work with every day. However, even if the diagnoses seem similar, each patient has his own characteristics that require an individual approach.

If the spine is healthy, the person in general is also healthy. Diseases occur when its functionality is disturbed. My job is to restore that functionality, but I don’t just focus on specific symptoms. For me, it is important to restore the general health of the patient, to adjust his body so that it can work effectively in the future. My principle is to work comprehensively. I do not limit myself to any one method or technique. Sometimes a chiropractor who strictly adheres to only one direction risks not achieving the desired result. Therefore, I use the entire arsenal of techniques, adapting them to the specific situation of the patient.

When working with a patient, I always take into account the individual characteristics of the body. We are all different, and the same technique can produce different results. I also take into account the duration and severity of the disease. Injuries or illnesses that have been building up for years require a different approach than recent problems. In addition, the general state of health of a person is important to me.

The spine affects all body systems – nervous, digestive, cardiovascular. Working with the musculoskeletal system, I adjust their balance. For example, when it comes to scoliosis, it is often believed that nothing can be done about it, especially if it is the third or fourth stage. But I am convinced that even in such cases there is room for improvement. Of course, in the third and fourth stage, scoliosis may require surgical intervention. But if we are talking about the second or first stage, then they can be adjusted. We can transfer the second stage to the first, and from the first we can almost return to a normal state. Even from the third stage, if you work comprehensively, you can achieve a significant improvement and reduce it to the second.

Such results, especially with severe cases, do not come quickly. This is a long process that can last a year or more. It includes not only manual therapy, but also work in the hall, rehabilitation and the implementation of a specially designed program. It is important that this is not just the correction of the spine or joints, but the restoration of the harmony of the whole body, which as a result makes a person healthier and more energetic. And the most important thing is that it is possible. Everything depends on the system approach and the desire of the person himself.

People often think that treatment ends when the pain is gone. But the real result is when the body returns to harmony and all the internal organs work in harmony. Therefore, my task is not only to eliminate the problem, but also to help a person restore health completely.

I believe that a comprehensive approach with the use of different techniques, rehabilitation of the spine and work with the whole body is the key to a long-lasting effect. And that’s why my technique works. It does not mask the symptoms, but eliminates the causes of the problem. My ultimate goal is the overall health of the patient.

That is, do you think that the main cause of most joint problems is an unhealthy spine? Can you tell in more detail what signs indicate that it is time to pay attention to the condition of the back and joints?

Yes, I’m sure that most joint problems in people actually originate in the spine, unless we take injuries and fractures in a specific location. Our way of life is far from ideal: constant sitting, working at the computer, driving for a long time, insufficient physical activity — all this creates the ground for disorders in the work of the musculoskeletal system. Muscles weaken, blood supply deteriorates, and the body gradually begins to age earlier than it would like. Add to this injuries, bad habits, lack of regular movement — and we have a whole picture of dysfunctions.

Signs of disorders can appear gradually: weakness, loss of mood, appetite, headaches, numbness of the limbs, crunching in the joints, as well as acute pain. Often people start treating, for example, their knees when they hurt. But in most cases, approximately 70-80%, problems with the knees are associated with improper load, which comes from disorders in the work of the spine itself, especially the lumbar region.

When the work of deep muscles is disturbed, the load is distributed incorrectly, and this literally “kills” the joints. Even meniscal injuries in football players or arthrosis that occur over time are mostly the result of problems with the lumbar spine. It is he who is the basis of the whole body, he is responsible not only for movement, but also for the functioning of all internal organs, coordination of processes and even the general state of health. It can be compared to the main controller of the body. If the spine is healthy, the body functions correctly. But as soon as there are disturbances in it, there is a failure of the entire system, which affects everything: from the brain to the tips of the fingers.

The spine can be called the “king of life”, and that is why its condition requires special attention. Treating only the joints without restoring the health of the spine often does not bring long-term results. So if you feel pain, numbness, crunching or other unpleasant symptoms, you should first pay attention to the condition of your spine, because it depends on how harmoniously your whole body works.

What was the most difficult disease you managed to cure and did you particularly remember it?

It is difficult to say unequivocally what exactly is a “particularly difficult disease”, because the spectrum of problems with which I have to work is very wide. But there are cases that are really memorable. For example, I had a patient with a hernia measuring 24 millimeters. Such a size is usually considered not just an indication for the operation, but a categorical sentence – “with things for the operation tomorrow.” But I managed to cope with this problem. For me, hernias of the size of 9-12 millimeters are already a common practice, and I treat such cases calmly.

In addition to working with hernias, I also apply elements of osteopathic techniques. For example, I have good results in working with the head, in particular in straightening the atlas (the atlas is the first cervical vertebra that holds the head – ed.), although I approach it in my own way. This is especially important in cases with children, when it is possible to “extinguish” epiactivity and prevent the development of epilepsy caused by birth injuries. This is individual and very delicate work, because children need a special approach. But the most vivid memory is when you help a child avoid epilepsy and hormone therapy. When you know that a timely intervention saved a child from serious consequences, it inspires you to continue working further.

Did more parents come to you during the war about the treatment of children? With what problems are they brought now?

Thus, during the war, the number of appeals involving children increased significantly. However, I take children to work selectively: very young ones – rarely, I work more often with teenagers, because it is at this age that problems manifest themselves most clearly.

Unfortunately, the war greatly affected the health of children. One of the main consequences is fear and depression, stresses that literally “squeeze” their muscles. Because of this, scoliosis develops very quickly, even in those who did not have a tendency to it before. The situation is complicated by home schooling, a sedentary lifestyle and constant psychological stress.
The war affected children emotionally. All these experiences are stored in the form of muscle blocks and clamps. The children’s body tries to “unload” the psyche, transferring the tension to the body. This works as a defense mechanism, but results in musculoskeletal disorders and general health problems.

Another thing that has changed a lot is the prevalence of panic attacks among children. It used to be mostly an “adult” problem, but now more and more children are experiencing similar conditions. These emotional and physical difficulties require a comprehensive approach to treatment, because simply eliminating the symptoms is not enough – it is important to help the child to restore both physical and psychological health.

The children take the hardest hit and it is my job to do everything I can to help them get back to a harmonious state, despite the difficult conditions in which we all find ourselves.

Do you see a direct relationship between a person’s psycho-emotional state and the health of his joints and spine?

Yes, it is absolutely direct dependence. And even if we do not take into account the war, society itself has a colossal impact on human health. Our way of life, constant stress, fast pace — all this leaves its mark not only on the psyche, but also on the body. The spine, as the basis of the musculoskeletal system, also suffers.

War is, of course, the most acute social factor. It significantly increases all existing problems. But even without war, many people do not know how to properly restore their strength, allocate resources and adapt to the modern rhythm of life. In such conditions, the body begins to “give up”, and this process often manifests itself due to a malfunction of the musculoskeletal system.

We are all, in a certain sense, “sick of war”. We are not what we used to be. Joy in our lives has become much less, and stress and tension – much more. How we will get out of this state is still an open question. But one thing is clear: the body and psyche are inextricably linked, and it is necessary to work with these problems comprehensively. The health of the spine, joints and the whole body directly depends on our internal state, and emotional health depends on our physical health. These are two sides of the same coin, and only harmony between them gives a real result.

You help many soldiers a lot, for which we are very grateful. What injuries and injuries do they come to you with? How is their rehabilitation?

I consider it my duty to help our defenders. Military personnel come with various diagnoses, often caused by heavy physical exertion and difficult service conditions. These can be innervation disorders after surgical interventions, deep back injuries, pinched nerves, hernias, problems with the musculoskeletal system due to body armor, prolonged stay in the trenches, jumping, running under stress.

Rehabilitation of military personnel is always a problem, because they do not have time for full recovery. For example, if a soldier comes in with acute pain or a herniated disc, I usually get him back on his feet in 10 days of intensive sessions. After that, he can return to his duties again, even put on a bulletproof vest and go on the attack. But there is often no talk of long-term rehabilitation, because every day counts in war.

On the one hand, it is joyful when I see how a person passed the course, returned to the service again and is happy. For example, a military man who literally “soared” after treatment returned to the army, full of strength and even started doing something positive. But there are also moments that leave a sad imprint. One of the patients who underwent a course with me and recovered, two months after returning to the service, received a severe wound in the back, which required the installation of metal structures. Another case is a soldier who had just finished treatment, was enjoying life, but was soon hit by an explosion and received shrapnel injuries. Such stories are very painful for me, but they emphasize the importance of even short-term help. However, every day when a soldier can feel better and act more effectively is always a good thing. And if I can contribute at least a little to this, it is the best reward for me.

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What are the most common mistakes people make that lead to spine and joint problems?

In short, the main reasons lie in the wrong way of life. If we do not take athletes who work “for wear and tear” and often suffer due to injuries, then ordinary people create problems for themselves due to habits that destroy their musculoskeletal system.

The first is hypodynamia, or lack of movement. People do not move much, and the modern way of life contributes to this. Constantly sitting at the computer, driving for a long time — all this causes disorders in the work of muscle groups. The body gradually begins to age faster than it should.

The second is improper nutrition. If the body does not receive the necessary nutrients, it affects the quality of the joints, ligaments and muscles.

The third is a psycho-emotional state. Constant stress, tension, inability to allocate resources and adapt to the rhythm of life create additional muscle blocks and clamps that affect the spine and joints.

If a person moves correctly and has healthy habits, his muscle groups work harmoniously and the body functions optimally. But if her life consists of constant sitting, a minimum of physical activity and an unbalanced load, she will inevitably face problems with the spine, joints and early aging of the body.

The way out is simple: more movement, exercise, correct posture, healthy eating and work on your emotional state. This is the basis of a healthy body and a long life without pain.

What do you need to do to move correctly? What advice can you give to people, especially those who spend a lot of time at the computer?

Let me explain it simply. Most of us remain conditionally healthy only until the second grade of school. Having been born without pathologies, we enter kindergarten and then school. Two years behind the desk — and problems begin. First, the child slouches, then scoliosis develops, and then a whole bunch of problems with the back and joints. By the time they leave school, most children already have chronic disorders.

The problem is that in modern life there is a lack of proper movement and a balanced load. Our muscles work like chains, they must contract, stretch and unload correctly. But due to constant sitting, incorrect posture and lack of movement, this balance is disturbed.

So what to do? The first and most important thing is to teach a person the correct movement from childhood. And this is not a sport. Sport is about exhausting the body and injuries. It is about basic skills: how to properly sit, stand, stand up and lie down. This should become a habit.

The second is, as I said, regular physical activity. A person does not need to overload himself, but regular exercise will help maintain the health of the spine and joints. Of course, there are some simple but effective exercises that will help maintain a healthy spine and prevent many problems. Three times a week, you should perform exercises aimed at the internal muscles, especially the stabilizer muscles. These exercises help keep the spine in the right position and relieve excess load.

One interesting way to activate the stabilizer muscles is to use an exercise ball. Learning how to sit on it properly or doing basic exercises will help strengthen deep muscles and improve balance.

In addition to exercise, it is important to properly organize your workplace. The computer should be positioned at eye level at an angle of 90 degrees. Arms and elbows are at a comfortable height, and the chair has anatomical back support. Getting up, stretching, and changing your body position regularly is a necessary part of your day. If you sit for more than 4 hours in a row, this is already a “red flag” for the body.

At the same time, proper nutrition is necessary, which affects the condition of joints, muscles and internal organs. It should be balanced to provide the body with all the necessary elements. Nutrition directly affects the condition of the spine and joints. People who eat monotonously, for example, only buckwheat, often do not get the necessary nutrients and do not feel well. Food should be balanced and varied, include proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. It is ideal if the body receives all the necessary substances from food. If something is missing, it is worth taking tests and adding the necessary vitamins or trace elements. Combined with physiotherapy, massages, sun, fresh air and proper hydration, this will help maintain health.

Hydration of the body is also an extremely important factor. Dehydration is categorically harmful. Water is the basis of life and is extremely important for joint and cartilage health. If the body lacks water, the cartilage tissue loses its elasticity, the work of the joints is disturbed, and this gradually leads to their destruction. A person should consume at least 30 milliliters of water per kilogram of their weight every day. And under conditions of physical exertion or training, this indicator increases by another liter. Unfortunately, most people do not follow this rule. We often drink tea or coffee, which, on the contrary, contribute to dehydration, and we do not provide the body with a sufficient amount of clean water. It is a slow but destructive process that leads to the degradation of the joints and spine. Therefore, to maintain their health, first of all, you need to pay attention to proper hydration. Without water, even the healthiest diet will not help keep the joints and spine in proper condition.

Healthy sleep also plays a key role, helping to restore strength, relieve stress and maintain balance in the body. Walking in the fresh air and maintaining proper posture are also of great importance.

Our body is designed for movement, and without it, it gradually loses its potential. Minimal efforts invested in the right habits preserve health for years. If these simple habits do not help or the problem has already developed, then medications or, in extreme cases, surgery are added. But the best way is prevention, which allows you to avoid complex interventions.

Have you considered creating a distance learning course so people can learn how to avoid and treat spine and joint problems?

The idea of ​​creating a prevention course has always been interesting to me. But to be honest, I don’t quite understand how to approach this. Before the war, I conducted individual courses where I taught small groups of people. It was a format where you literally pass the technique from hand to hand. It is very effective, because the training takes place directly, you see the person, feel his reaction and can immediately correct his movements or approach. This face-to-face interaction is very close to handing over the craft. This is not just a theory, but an art that requires practical contact. And here comes the difficulty: how to convey all these nuances remotely? How to explain how to feel one’s own body or correctly perform this or that movement, if you are not next to the person?

However, I understand that modern realities force adaptation. Perhaps a distance learning course could include basic knowledge of prevention, proper movement, healthy posture, and minimal exercise to support spine and joint health. But more complex things that require fine-tuning should be left for face-to-face classes when it becomes possible. If I find the right format, I would be happy to share my experience, because my main goal is to help people avoid problems and live a healthy, fulfilling life.

Are you planning to open your own training center? Do you have many students?

Yes, I have plans to open my training center. I don’t have thousands of students, but they do exist. These are those who are eager to learn and acquire knowledge. Unfortunately, not all of them are in the resource, but I still plan to resume teaching. The method I developed must not disappear. If I’m gone someday, that doesn’t mean the approach I’ve created and perfected over the years has to disappear either.

My method is passed on, so to speak, “from hand to hand.” It is not just a set of techniques, but an understanding, feeling and experience that I seek to impart to those who are willing to learn.

Have you had moments when you wanted to leave everything because of the difficulty of the work? Is it always only forward?

To be honest, such moments happen. Periodically you “burn out”. Physically it is very difficult, psycho-emotionally it is not easy either. Working with people is always a big burden, because you not only treat the body, but also accept their emotions, pain, and stories.

I know many of my colleagues who lost their health because of it. At the age of 50, working 14-16 hours a day is already a great achievement for me. And here I am not talking about the psycho-emotional component, only about the physical load. For comparison: an ordinary masseur in a polyclinic works his shift, which lasts 5-6 hours, takes notes, sometimes has time for a tea break. And my working day starts at 7 in the morning and ends at 11 in the evening. Of course, there is a lunch break, but the workload is still huge.

But despite this, I maintain my health, because it is part of what I give to people. And that motivates me. After all, when you see how you help, how people are grateful to you, it gives you strength. Probably, this is the best reward for all efforts.

What do you do outside of work to support yourself and recover?

As trite as it may sound, I love a good book, fishing, light hiking with a tent. Time with friends is also an important part of life, sometimes even with regular feasts. These are the moments when you can distract yourself from everyday worries and recharge your energy.

What prompted you to stay in Kharkiv? After all, you had many opportunities to leave the war-torn city.

This is a very common question that I get asked a lot. Yes, I could leave when there was no electricity or water in the house. Then I really left the city temporarily. But as soon as the situation stabilized, I returned.

Why did I stay? Kharkiv is my native home, my comfort zone, even despite the war. This is the city where I grew up, where my childhood memories, family, family ties, and familiar streets remain.

I know that I could find a job anywhere, because my profession allows it. Thanks to word of mouth, my work will find me anywhere. But Kharkiv is different. It’s not just a place to work, it’s a city I love with all my heart. When I go, for example, to Kyiv, I still feel drawn back to Kharkiv. This city energizes me, and I want to help Kharkiv residents, our wounded, our people.

Yes, the war made our life difficult. Constant shelling when you’re driving down the street, and there’s an explosion nearby. You walk, and you realize that this time you were lucky. Houses with broken windows, cracks and the constant question: to repair or not, because tomorrow it can fly again. But despite everything, Kharkiv is my native, beloved city, and it will always be a part of me.

Oksana Ishchenko