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Osteopathy
"To find health should be the object of the doctor. Any one can find disease"
Andrew Taylor Still (August 6, 1828 – December 12, 1917) is considered the father of osteopathy and osteopathic medicine. He was also a physician, surgeon and author.
What is osteopathy?
Osteopaths are highly trained professionals with particular expertise in the musculoskeletal system – the muscles, joints and their relationship with other systems of the body. Hands-on therapy by osteopaths helps to improve mobility, relieve tension, offer pain relief, increase blood flow and optimise physical function. It includes manipulation of the joints, spine and connective tissues, as well as massage and stretching of muscles and ligaments.
Who do we see?
People often visit osteopaths for low back pain, middle back pain, neck pain, joint pain and muscle pain, for short-term issues such as sports injuries and for help with conditions such as migraines, headaches or digestive issues. But many patients visit their osteopath on a regular basis to help manage chronic conditions such as arthritis and to maintain their overall wellbeing and health and prevent injury. This is because osteopaths are highly people-focused, taking the time to understand every patient as an individual. Building long-lasting, health-improving relationships with patients is one of the pleasures of the osteopathic profession.
https://www.osteopathy.org.uk/register-search/
General Osteopathy
Osteopathy for Pain Relief
Cranial Osteopathy for Babies and Children
Osteopathy in the Work place
Osteopathy for Pregnancy and Post Natal Care
Osteopathy, Sports, Fitness and Injury
Babies are subjected to immense forces during delivery, and occasionally medical intervention may be neccessary such as ventouse, forceps or Caesarean Section to help mum and baby give birth safely. Osteopathy is especially beneficial for your baby if you have a difficult labour and birth, to help recovery and to prevent problems as quickly as possible. Osteopaths look beyond conditions and take a holistic approach to all patients including babies and children, using manual techniques to restore, maintain and support health and wellbeing. Osteopaths don’t just use Cranial Osteopathy techniques - they draw on the relevant approaches that are gentle enough for babies and children, providing treatment that’s as individual as the patient. In young patients, the methods used are nearly always very gentle, but nonetheless powerful, requiring specialist skill and knowledge. Baby massage is a safe and gentle massage technique utilising gentle movements of the body, limbs and tummy to aid in amongst other things digestive pain and trapped wind. I am a trained baby massage therapist and occassionally demonstate these techniques and stretches for you to do at home to help your baby inbetween treatments.
No matter what your age or state of health, Osteopathy can benefit all from the very young to the very old. Osteopathy is a system of diagnosis and treatment for a wide range of medical conditions. It works with the structure and function of the body and is based on the principle that the well-being of an individual depends on the skeleton, muscles, ligaments and connective tissues functioning smoothly together. To an osteopath, for your body to work well, its structure must also work well. So osteopaths work to restore your body to a state of balance, where possible without the use of drugs or surgery. Osteopaths use touch, physical manipulation, stretching and massage to increase the mobility of joints, to relieve muscle tension, to enhance the blood and nerve supply to tissues, and to help your body’s own healing mechanisms and relieve pain and reduce symptoms. They may also provide advice on posture and exercise to aid recovery, promote health and prevent symptoms recurring. All osteopaths in the UK are regulated by the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC). Osteopaths are required to renew their registration each year and we provide registrants with an annual licence to practise. As part of this process, the GOsC checks that osteopaths have current professional indemnity insurance, remain in good health and of good character, and have met mandatory continuing professional development requirements. Osteopaths can treat: Arthritic pain Circulatory problems Cramp Digestion problems Fibromyalgia Frozen shoulder/ shoulder and elbow pain/ tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis arising from associated musculoskeletal conditions of the back and neck, but not isolated occurrences) Headache arising from the neck (cervicogenic) Joint pains Joint pains including hip and knee pain from osteoarthritis as an adjunct to core OA treatments and exercise General, acute & chronic backache, back pain (not arising from injury or accident) Generalised aches and pains Lumbago Migraine prevention Minor sports injuries Muscle spasms Neuralgia Tension and inability to relax Rheumatic pain Sciatica Uncomplicated mechanical neck pain (as opposed to neck pain following injury i.e. whiplash)
The female body is incredible; growing a baby and then nourishing her baby with her breastmilk. However throughout pregnancy the female body changes significantly to allow for her developing baby and her posture has to adapt accordingly. Through pregnancy your centre of gravity moves forwards, your weight-bearing shifts and your ligaments start softening as your body prepares to deliver your baby. These postural changes can all affect your muscles, joints and ligaments which can lead to discomfort and particuarily lower back pain and pelvic pain or pelvic girdle pain. Osteopathy is a gentle, safe and effective way of supporting you through this transition and beyond, whilst being completely safe for your pregnancy and your baby. Osteopathy is especially beneficial if you have a difficult labour and birth, to help recovery and to prevent problems as quickly as possible. If you have an uncomplicated delivery, we recommend a postpartum check-up between 4-6 weeks to help support you during this time of change and adaptation. Osteopaths can treat: Arthritic pain Circulatory problems Cramp Digestion problems Fibromyalgia Frozen shoulder/ shoulder and elbow pain/ tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis arising from associated musculoskeletal conditions of the back and neck, but not isolated occurrences) Headache arising from the neck (cervicogenic) Joint pains Joint pains including hip and knee pain from osteoarthritis as an adjunct to core OA treatments and exercise General, acute & chronic backache, back pain (not arising from injury or accident) Generalised aches and pains Lumbago Migraine prevention Minor sports injuries Muscle spasms Neuralgia Tension and inability to relax Rheumatic pain Sciatica Uncomplicated mechanical neck pain (as opposed to neck pain following injury i.e. whiplash)
Any increase in activity level, change to your exercise regime (for example spurts of gardening) or taking up a new sport may result in discomfort, which can be normal. However if the level of discomfort is relatively higher than usual or the symptoms persist for more than a few days and are affecting your usual daily activities, it might be worth seeking advice from your Osteopath. Pain and injuries are frustrating and can impact the way you train, your ability to keep fit and interrupt your daily activities so we want to help you get back to the things you love as quickly as possible. Osteopaths use a wide range of stretching techniques, soft tissue work, joint manipulations, strapping or taping to help the healing process, relieve pain and prevent reinjury. As always treatment is tailored depending on your age, fitness and diagnosis. As well as treating injuries, we may offer you advice about fuelling your body for success with nutrition, diet, lifestyle, exercise and strecthing advice to help improve your performance and prevent future injuries. Osteopaths are trained to assess whether an injury or symptoms are muscolskeletal or due to a more serious underlying condition which may warrant further investigation. Osteopaths can treat: Arthritic pain Circulatory problems Cramp Digestion problems Fibromyalgia Frozen shoulder/ shoulder and elbow pain/ tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis arising from associated musculoskeletal conditions of the back and neck, but not isolated occurrences) Headache arising from the neck (cervicogenic) Joint pains Joint pains including hip and knee pain from osteoarthritis as an adjunct to core OA treatments and exercise General, acute & chronic backache, back pain (not arising from injury or accident) Generalised aches and pains Lumbago Migraine prevention Minor sports injuries Muscle spasms Neuralgia Tension and inability to relax Rheumatic pain Sciatica Uncomplicated mechanical neck pain (as opposed to neck pain following injury i.e. whiplash)
We are spending longer and longer periods sedentary and in particular sitting. We sit down to eat meals, sit at a desk, sit while driving in the car or commuting, sit in the evenings relaxing. This combined with awkward lifting or carrying, overstitching, bending forward awkwardly, repetitive motion and not stretching out areas of tension are some of the most common causes of musculoskeletal problems which can lead to lower back pain, middle back pain, neck pain, sciatica, headaches, migraines, shoulder pain, hand pain, knee pain, foot pain, facial pain and more. The increased use of mobile phones and tablets also means that we are spending considerable amounts of time looking down which puts strain through the back of the neck and shoulders leading to head, neck, shoulder and upper back pain and symptoms. Stress at work and the pressure of being constantly digitally connected can also contribute to this work related postural and muscoskeletal pain and tension. Osteopaths can identify musculoskeletal disorders that may be caused by work activities. By using a wide range of treatment approaches Osteopaths can help to releve these symptoms. Work station ergenomic assessments, lifting techniques and lifestyle adice can help to prevent future reoccurance. Where neccessary Osteopaths can refer you to your GP for further investigation. As primary healthcare practitioners, we can provide you with a “fitness for work” note with recommendations to your employer to help ensure you are supporting your body at work and not at risk of further injury. Osteopaths can treat: Arthritic pain Circulatory problems Cramp Digestion problems Fibromyalgia Frozen shoulder/ shoulder and elbow pain/ tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis arising from associated musculoskeletal conditions of the back and neck, but not isolated occurrences) Headache arising from the neck (cervicogenic) Joint pains Joint pains including hip and knee pain from osteoarthritis as an adjunct to core OA treatments and exercise General, acute & chronic backache, back pain (not arising from injury or accident) Generalised aches and pains Lumbago Migraine prevention Minor sports injuries Muscle spasms Neuralgia Tension and inability to relax Rheumatic pain Sciatica Uncomplicated mechanical neck pain (as opposed to neck pain following injury i.e. whiplash)
Osteopaths can use a variety of different techniques and treatments to help ease the pain associated with symptoms. These techniques help relieve muscle tension, improve the mobility of the joints which together help improve the blood circulation, nerve supply and lymphatic drainage to the area in order to trigger the body’s own healing mechanisms and offer pain relief. Osteopaths use a wide range of techniques such as joint manipulation, articulation, soft/deep tissue massage and Stretches depending on the patient’s complaint, age and medical history. Osteopaths can also give advice and exercises along side treatment for help with pain relief. Osteopaths can treat: Arthritic pain Circulatory problems Cramp Digestion problems Fibromyalgia Frozen shoulder/ shoulder and elbow pain/ tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis arising from associated musculoskeletal conditions of the back and neck, but not isolated occurrences) Headache arising from the neck (cervicogenic) Joint pains Joint pains including hip and knee pain from osteoarthritis as an adjunct to core OA treatments and exercise General, acute & chronic backache, back pain (not arising from injury or accident) Generalised aches and pains Lumbago Migraine prevention Minor sports injuries Muscle spasms Neuralgia Tension and inability to relax Rheumatic pain Sciatica Uncomplicated mechanical neck pain (as opposed to neck pain following injury i.e. whiplash)
