What is Osteopathy?
Osteopathy is a form of manual medicine which views the body as a whole and aims to treat the cause of a problem rather than just the symptoms.
Osteopaths assist healing by focusing on how the skeleton, joints, muscles, nerves, circulation, connective tissue and internal organs function together as a single unit.
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Conditions are treated through the use of manual therapy, combined with traditional medical knowledge. More specifically, manipulations and techniques which are used to assess, prevent and treat various ailments, including those of the musculoskeletal, visceral, autonomic nervous and cranial-sacral systems.
No need for a doctor's referral to see us.
WHAT CAN OSTEOPATHY TREAT
Muscular System
Neck & Low back pain
Joint pain
Rib & Intercostal pains
Sports injuries Muscle strains
Whiplash
Hernias & p
Protrusions
Tendinitis
Repetitive strain injury
Scoliosis,
Postural problems, Scars
Frozen shoulder
Paediatric:
Torticollis
Concussions
Headaches & migraines
Dizziness & vertigo
Sciatica
Carpel tunnel syndrome
Difficulty sleeping
Neurological deficits
Stress & adrenal fatigue
Arthritic pains Osteoarthritis
Joint alignment
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Jaw pain
Teeth clenching
Shoulder, elbow, wrist, knee
& ankle sprains
Post surgery scars & mobilisation
Paediatric: Plagiocephaly
Iliac Apophysits
Overlapped cranial bones
Gastritis, Hiatal hernia
Reflux
Abdominal swelling
Constipation
Crohn's Disease symptoms
Acute & chronic colics
Paediatric:
Colics, swallowing
difficulties, constipation
Neurological
Skeletal System
Digestive System
Osteopathy is based on 4 fundamental principles
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The body is a unit, and the person represents a combination of body, mind and spirit.
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Structure and function are reciprocally interrelated.
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Rational treatment is based on an understanding of these principles: body unity,
self-regulation, and the interrelationship of structure and function.
The body is capable of self-regulation, self-healing and health maintenance.
Osteopathy for Sports, Rehabilitation and Athletic Preparation
Osteopathy is beneficial not only to help recover from injuries but also prevent them, in athletes as well as people who simply enjoy sports and exercise to keep fit.
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Improving Performance
Osteopathy is being used more and more by high profile athletes and sports teams internationally. Because of Osteopathy's holistic approach the athletes body is viewed as a whole allowing the therapist to better understand the cause of an underlying problem and not being limited just to the muscular-skeletal system.
How can Osteopathy help my injuries?
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Reduce painful symptoms through manual techniques
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Treat the injury as well as any compensations created by the body
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Refer for X-ray or Ultrasound
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Refer to a specialist doctor if necessary
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Provide a rehabilitation programme
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Give ongoing treatment to prevent future injury
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Improve overall sporting performance
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Assist your return to sport as quickly as possible
Osteopathy for Infants & Children
Osteopathy is a gentle treatment suitable for babies and children. Osteopaths utilise a range of gentle techniques including cranial therapy.
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Cranial techniques are safe, gentle and non-manipulative. They are often used when treating young children and newborn infants. Osteopaths work under the principle that there may be a number of contributing factors to the symptoms and will therefore evaluate not only the area which is producing the symptoms, but also associated areas that may be contributing to the issue.
Infants & Babies
Reflux, colic, plagiocephaly & torticollis, latching difficulties, irritability, breech babies.
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Children & Teenagers
Headaches, neck & back pain, knee pain, ear infections, postural problems, low foot arches.
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Fiona, Belinda, Brita & Cedric can treat infants and babies under the age of 5.
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Bianca treats children aged 5+ years.
What techniques do Osteopaths use?
Osteopaths use a wide variety of techniques to create a unique treatment for each patient.
Soft Tissue Techniques
Consist of a rhythmic stretching, deep pressure and traction. Their purpose is to move tissue fluids and to relax tigh muscles and myofascial layers associated with somatic dysfunction.
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HVLA (High-Velocity Low-Aplitude)
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Joint manipulation is often referred to by Osteopaths as an High velocity, low amplitude or ‘HVLA’. This is a gentle, safe and effective technique designed to restore the normal movement to a joint (spine, ribs and limbs) that is stuck or not moving properly.
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Visceral Techniques
These techniques are applied both directly and indirectly to organs in the abdomen (eg. stomach, liver and intestine) or chest (eg, lungs and oesophagus). They are used to evaluate and treat the relationship causing restricted mobility to the rest of the body's structures. Visceral Osteopathy is safe gentle and suitable at any age including infants.
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Cranial-Sacral
*Please note only Fiona, Cedric, and Brita are qualified in cranial techniques.
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Inside the skull there is a covering over the brain, the dura, that continues down inside the spine to the tailbone (sacrum) It protects and supports the central nervous system. The central nervous system controls the functioning of every organ, muscle and nerve in the body.
Cranial Osteopathy is a specialist field of Osteopathy that follows all of the same principles but includes the anatomy and physiology of the head.
Techniques are performed using a highly trained sense of touch to feel subtle changes of tension and tissue quality within the body and to diagnose areas of strain or dysfunction.
Fascial Techniques
Fascial techniques work on the connective tissue which can be found all throughout the body. The connective tissue (fascia) is like a glove the wraps around every muscle, organ, nerve and bone. The connection of these structures means that sometimes we may feel pain in one area of the body, but it's actually being caused by another area.
Fascial techniques work to find the cause of the dysfunction and to release it. Fascial techniques are gentle, safe and are suitable for all ages including infants.
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Muscle Energy Techniques
Involving a powerful yet gentle series of techniques that can be utilized on any muscle of the body to restore normal range of motion and mechanical function.
These techniques use activation of the muscle, followed by a gentle stretch and often performed with guided breathing.
Pelvic Health Osteopathy
Pelvic health issues such as prolapse, incontinence, sexual dysfunction or pain, falling onto your tailbone, struggling to sit or walk without discomfort, as well as pregnancy-related issues such as pelvic girdle pain, perineum and C-section scar care are all conditions which may need to be treated by a pelvic osteopath.
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Please note Brita is currently our only Osteopath qualified for Pelvic Health techniques. To book an appointment you can do so online or call us.
What conditions can a Pelvic Osteopath treat?
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Pregnancy-related issues (e.g. pelvic girdle pain)
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Post-natal care (C-section scar and perineal tear/episiotomy scar management)
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Tailbone-related pain (e.g. from falls onto tailbone)
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Incontinence (bowel or bladder)
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Pelvic organ prolapse
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Gynaecological surgery - post surgery management
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Pelvic pain (female and male)
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Pain during or after intercourse
What is the treatment like?
During your initial consultation, your Pelvic Health Osteopath will take a detailed case history of your condition as well as any other conditions you wish to share. They will take into consideration past and present conditions/injuries as well as your physical and mental health in order to create a treatment plan tailored to your needs.
Evaluation and treatment consist of external gentle techniques in and around the pelvic region. Your evaluation may include an internal assessment of the pelvic floor muscles which could be completed vaginally (females) or rectally (males & females). Your osteopath will discuss this option and receive your consent before initiating this exam.