Common Complaints
Back Pain
Back pain can be extremely painful and difficult to manage. Research has shown that problems related to the back affect over 60% of the UK's population. Back pain can cause symptoms in remote areas such as the buttocks, groin, hips and legs (commonly called sciatica)
Once the osteopath has determined whether the symptoms are musculoskeletal, treatment will aim to improve the mobility and reduce the pain using appropriate techniques. NICE guidelines recommend manipulative therapies including osteopathy for the treatment of low back pain.
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A case history is taken to understand what happened during the pregnancy and birth along with what one feels on palpation to help formulate a treatment plan.
Neck Pain
Problems in the neck as with the back can cause symptoms in remote areas such as headaches, dizziness, clicking jaw and pins and needles.
With neck pain an osteopath will look at the neck in relation to the rest of the body, to evaluate the load and muscular effort involved in supporting the head.
The positions we hold our heads in for long hours of the day, can often be an important factor in neck pain of a musculoskeletal origin.
Sciatica and Trapped Nerves
The term sciatica is used to describe pain in the leg, commonly along the sciatic nerve, from the buttock radiating down the back and side of the upper leg. Sometimes pain can extend below the knee.
'Trapped nerve' is sometimes used to describe pain distant from the site of the injury. A nerve close to the injured tissue can be affected mechanically or by changes in the circulation of the nerve. The symptoms can include pins and needles or numbness.
Arthritis
Arthritis is often be associated with pain, inflammation and stiffness in the joints.
Osteopathic treatment of gentle manipulation and massage techniques can alleviate arthritic joints in some patients.
Treatment may also involve getting the body to work better overall.
Headaches
There are many causes of headaches. Muscular tension in the neck and associated muscles are often a cause. An osteopath would look at this when treating a patient complaining of headaches. There are of course many other factors and as part of the case history and subsequent examination one would want to look at the circulatory system both locally and generally.
The neurological system and any history of ear, nose and throat problems would be explored. Dental occlusion and the jaw may also need to be examined in further detail. Each patient is obviously different, so some factors will therefore be more relevant than others.
Sports Injuries
These may be acute from one traumatic episode or chronic. Most commonly an imbalance has developed over a period of time leading to the injury or it is a reoccurring problem, so it is important to look at the whole person.
An osteopath can advise on exercises and stretching techniques where appropriate to help balance and reduce the load on certain tissues.
Adolescents and teenagers doing lots of sport, whilist growing and changing can develop musculoskeletal problems through injury.
Repetitive Strain Injury
As the name suggests Repetitive Strain means doing the same movement, in the same way again and again, holding one position for a period of time or overusing a group of muscles. This can lead to inflammation of a tendon.
Advising a patient on their position at work and some self-help exercises or stretching can be helpful.
Growing Pains in Children
Commonly worse at night and often after active days.
The pain can be very distressing for young children.
The osteopath would use treatment that would aim to balance the rate of growth with the demand on the muscles.
Babies and Pregnancy
Osteopthy is a gentle treatment suitable for babies and children. Gentle manipulation could help soothe and relax your baby.
Osteopaths use gentle techniques such as cranial osteopathy when treating babies.