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Osteopathy
O steopathy is a safe and effective approach to health care. It is considered to be complementary and not an alternative to conventional medical care.
Osteopathys safe and effective therapy, aims to promote the health of patients through the use of manual therapy, exercise and health advice.
Osteopathy focuses on the musculo-skeletal system (the bones, joints, muscles, ligaments and connective tissues) and the way in which this inter-relates with the body as a whole.
Osteopathy treats people of all ages, including sports people, the elderly, pregnant women, babies and children.
General Osteopathic Council (GOsC) is the regulatory body for all registered osteopaths in the UK.
An osteopaths registration with the GOsC is renewed annually, subject to highest standards of professional practice and maintaining regular professional development.
Osteopathy can help the following symptoms and problems:
- Acute/chronic neck pain
- Muscle spasm
- Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis)
- Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis)
- Acute and chronic low back pain
- Neck related headaches or dizziness
- Knee pain
- Fibromyalgia
- Shoulder girdle pain
- Sciatica
- Cramp
- Neuralgia
- Rheumatic pain
- Stress/inability to relax
- Aches and pains
- Digestion Problems
- Planter Fasciitis
- Joint pains
- Minor sports injuries
- Pregnancy Back Pain
However patients have found osteopathy helpful for many other conditions. If you want to find out more, an osteopath will be happy to talk to you.
Treatment
Osteopaths use their hands both to discover the underlying causes of pain and to carry out treatment using a variety of manipulative techniques.
These may include soft tissue stretching, rhythmic passive joint movements or high velocity thrust techniques to improve the range of movement of a joint.
Gentle release techniques are often used, particularly when treating children or elderly patients.
Visiting us
When you visit us for the first time, a full medical history will be taken and you will be given a thorough physical examination, e.g. check your reflexes, take your blood pressure and refer you for further tests such as X-rays, if we think you need them.
As with any medical examination, you will probably be asked to undress to your underwear, so please wear something you are comfortable in. If you wish, you can have someone present throughout your consultation and treatment.
The NICE (National Institute For clinical Excellence) Guideline in May 2009 recommends Osteopathy in the early management of persistent non-specific low back pain.
A medical research council trial comparing treatment options for lower back pain found that spinal manipulation, added to GP care, is clinically effective and the most cost efficient option for patients.
The Forest Complementary Clinic is located can be found at
Wood Street Opticians
153 Wood Street
Walthamstow
E17 3LX
Sports Injuries
Osteopathic treatment can help improve performance as well as treat the injuries being suffered.
Many of the injuries are the result of over use, i.e. playing too hard and too often, e.g. tennis elbow, golfer's elbow or from not warming up/down properly, or reduced joint flexibility.
If you are eager to get back to your sport quickly after injury, or have a problem which is preventing you from performing at your best, osteopathic treatment can help you reach your peak level of fitness.
Young people are vulnerable in sport as their growing bodies are often expected to perform to high standards and are putting exceptional physical demands on themselves.
REMEMBER
- Begin slowly and build up, especially after an injury.
- Warm up first, and then warm down with stretches afterwards.
- Drink plenty of water when exercising.
- Exercise regularly, and try to alternate the types of exercise that you are doing every day.
- Following a joint injury apply ice to the area for 10 minutes, every hour, if practical. Apply a bandage to compress the tissues. Elevate and rest if possible.
Back pain
Back pain is the symptom, not the cause.
The normal wear and tear of the aging process, poor physical fitness, bad working habits, stress, muscular tension and poor posture can all contribute to back pain. Even small stresses and strains can add up to permanent damage and pain. Other significant contributing factors include age and occupation.
The majority of adults will suffer from back pain at some point in their lives and it is one of the most common causes of absence from work in Britain.
Most people will recover quickly, but 10% of people will have sufficiently frequent and troublesome back pain to have an impact on their lives. This is usually for a limited period of time which may be days or weeks, but can be months or even years in some cases.
Most back pain can be avoided if you:
- Maintain good posture
- Watch your weight
- Keep fit
- Consider your everyday activities
- Recognise your sporting capabilities
- Lift wisely
Back pain is not an illness, but a symptom. An indicator that something somewhere is wrong. Twisting the back stretches the muscles and can cause shearing forces on the discs, especially risky when lifting something from the floor.
Sitting or standing for long periods of time will lead to muscle fatigue and may increase the risk of muscle spasm and disc damage.
The damage that has accumulated over weeks, months or years may be triggered by something as simple as bending to pick up a child’s toy or if you slip or trip over something.
If you're not sure whether Osteopathy is the right therapy for you, do feel free to have a chat with us. We will be happy to answer any questions that you may have.
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