Osteopathy

Osteopathy

Osteopathy is a safe and natural therapy that focuses on the body’s framework (for example: the bones, ligaments, muscles and connective tissue). The role of the Osteopath is to assess areas of dysfunction that are causing pain.

Osteopathy and Back Pain

If you are suffering from back pain it may produce symptoms to other areas such as the pelvis, hips or legs – commonly known as Sciatica. Back pain can affect people of all ages and groups such as office staff, sports enthusiats, manual labourers and drivers.

Cranial Osteopathy

Cranial osteopathy enhances the function of the central nervous system and supports the body’s natural healing process. The treatment is subtle and focuses on relaxing strained and tensioned areas.

What is Osteopathy

Osteopathy is a manual treatment approach that considers man as a body unit that consists of body, mind and spirit each coordinating with the other to give normality in balance and activity.

The structure of the body governs function of the organs, both are mutually dependent on the other. With improved structure and function of the body the stronger the self correcting forces will work.

Osteopathy comes from a medical foundation of anatomy, physiology, pathology, neurology, embryology and biomechanics.

Typical First Visit

On your first visit a detailed medical/osteopathic case history is taken about your condition and any traumatic events. It would be helpful to bring along any medications that you are currently taking or details of any investigations that would be helpful in our diagnosis.

We are interested in understanding the body’s adaptation to adverse influences. Both pre-existing conditions and illness can impose altered function on the tissues. A structural examination is then performed which can be either sitting, standing or lying down.

Wearing loose, comfortable clothes is helpful in order to evaluate any abnormalities and tissue texture. By placing our hands on various parts of the body we can evaluate the quality of tissues and joint motion. An osteopathic diagnosis is made.

If intervention is not appropriate we will refer you back to either your GP (for X-ray or MRI) or other healthcare practitioner more suited to your condition.

With your feedback we would then apply a treatment approach tailored to you and your condition. Treatment is very gentle and non invasive. Most patients will feel a distinct change after treatment.

How many treatments will I need?

This depends on many factors such a length of time and severity of the condition. Some conditions will respond quickly, others may need a short series of treatments.

The cure of the part should not be attempted without treatment of the whole … for this is the great error of our day in the treatment of the human body, that physicians first separate the soul from the body

Plato, The Republic 382 BC

What can be treated with Osteopathy?

Any biomechanical disturbances can give rise to many kinds of symptoms.

Low back pain

Sciatica

Neck pain

Whiplash injuries

Shoulder pain

Frozen shoulder

Repetitive Strain conditions

Carpal Tunnel

Knee / ankle injuries

Hip / groin pain

Tennis / golfers' elbow

Digestive problems

Neck stiffness

Sports Conditions

Sports performance improvement