Osteopathy is a well-established approach to health care and focuses on the musculo-skeletal system (bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, and connective tissue) and the way it interrelates with the body as a whole. A caring approach and attention to the individual are particularly important. Osteopaths diagnose and treat faults which occur because of injury, stress or disease. It is a very safe form of treatment. It uses no drugs. Instead Osteopaths work with their hands using a wide variety of techniques to restore the body to its normal function.

These techniques may include the following to improve the range of movement of the joint:

• Soft tissue stretching
• Rhythmic passive joint movement
• High-velocity thrust techniques

Gentle release techniques are often used, particularly when treating children or elderly patients.

The cranial approach uses very gentle techniques in which the osteopath's highly-trained sense of touch is used to identify and correct disturbances and limitations of tissue mobility throughout the whole body. This approach can be effective for releasing strains in children as a result of trauma during childbirth. Cranial and structural osteopathy can help with conditions such as colic, glue ear, migraine, and dizziness, as well as back trouble and neck pain.

What Happens in the Treatment Room?

When seeing a patient for the first time, an Osteopath will take a full medical history and make an examination, and will ask you about your work and leisure activities. This information will be considered in conjunction with the findings from a comprehensive musculo-skeletal assessment.

The osteopath will identify any points of weakness or excessive strain throughout the body and diagnose any specific injury.

Back Pain

Back problems account for 50% of the cases osteopaths see.

Most people think of back pain as being the result of an injury, but there are very many diseases and pathological conditions which give symptoms of back pain, such as:

• Arthritis
• Cervical spondylosis
• Kidney disease
• Tumours
• Rheumatic conditions
• Dermatological problems

Whilst these specific conditions are not curable by an osteopath, by correcting any underlying mechanical disturbances the osteopath can greatly relieve the pain and distress involved in some of these problems.

Contact

Appointments can be made by telephoning Reception at the Health Hydro on 01793 465629.