ABOUT OSTEOPATHY
Osteopathy is a safe, well established and natural form of manual therapy. In addition to being effective in the relief of symptoms one of the main strengths of osteopathy lies in its ability to assess each person as an individual and to ascertain what factors have contributed to a particular complaint.
The problem might be very straightforward - perhaps an overstrain injury in someone who is otherwise fit and healthy. On the other hand it might be something more complicated - an accumulation of several factors such as a sedentary job, little time for exercise, loss of muscle tone and poor recovery from a previous injury. These together can lead to a similar looking set of symptoms but each will require a different approach.
Each person has a unique physical and mental history mapped by their body so no two problems are ever completely the same. Treatment is therefore tailored to suit the needs of the individual patient.
We work, in close collaboration with our patients, to seek to identify the causes of impaired health and restore optimum functioning of the body, aiding its own intrinsic ability to heal.
The aim of treatment is not only to sort out the immediate problem but to leave the patient in better physical health, with a better understanding of what has happened to cause the problem and with less likelihood of the problem reoccurring in the future.
It is core to osteopathic thinking that all systems of the body are interrelated so poor performance in one area can lead to strain on other physiological processes. Through treatment we hope to affect the function of the whole system, and in so doing to improve overall health and well-being.
Osteopathy is well recognised to help with all types of musculo-skeletal conditions: back pain, neck pain, sciatica, slipped discs, frozen shoulder, whiplash, sports injury, repetitive strain injuries, arthritic joints and back pain in pregnancy. It is also capable of aiding a much wider range of problems from headaches, fatigue and stress related disorders to digestive problems, asthma and general ill health. Some patients find an osteopathic check-up a few times a year keeps problems at bay and helps eradicate minor aches and pains.
CRANIAL OSTEOPATHY
Cranial osteopathy is a gentle yet potent form of osteopathic treatment.
Osteopaths who work in this way have a highly developed sense of palpation which is able to detect subtle restrictions in what is more accurately known as ‘the involuntary mechanism’ but has become known as the ‘cranial mechanism’. Restrictions may come from a whole host of events - from birth strains, to past accidents or injuries, poor health or even emotional trauma - and they are likely to have the effect of impairing the body’s own inherent healing mechanisms.
As osteopaths, we look to acknowledge and resolve these restrictions, allowing the body’s own natural processes to complete the healing.
Cranial osteopathy can be of enormous benefit to many. It is usually the treatment of choice for babies and children and can be particularly helpful if a child has had a difficult birth. We see many babies for a ‘check-up’ after birth and often treat those who have been unsettled by the birth process.
When osteopaths examine babies areas of tension are often found in the spine or head, which may be causing the baby discomfort. A baby cannot complain of backache or headache and will typically express this by crying and being unsettled or irritable. Recurrent ear infections, asymmetrical head shapes, sleep disturbances and feeding difficulties are problems commonly encountered. In a research study conducted by Clive Hayden* into the effects of cranial osteopathic treatment on babies, some parents perceived the following changes in their children’s behaviour: reduced crying, improved sleep, less unhappy spells.
Cranial osteopathy can be of help during or after pregnancy to help the body manage the rapid changes taking place.
Many adults enjoy cranial osteopathy. The gentle release experienced from treatment can often relieve discomfort and pain and improve chronic musculo-skeletal problems.
* Hayden C., Mullinger B., A preliminary assessment of the impact of cranial osteopathy.
