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Osteopathy is a primary healthcare system, complementary to other medical
practices. It is suitable for people of all ages and can contribute to alleviating an enormous range of conditions. Osteopathy
recognises that much of the pain and disability we suffer stems from abnormalities in our body’s structure and function
and osteopaths diagnose and treat over 6 million people a year for problems with muscles, ligaments, nerves and joints to
help the body’s natural healing ability.
Typical problems that can benefit from osteopathic healthcare include neck
& back pain, sciatica, sports injuries, repetitive strain injuries (RSI), conditions such as arthritis, joint and muscular
pain, respiratory problems such as asthma, aches & pains associated with pregnancy, headaches & sinusitis, tinnitus
& jaw problems. Treatment involves gentle, manual techniques to ease pain, reduce swelling and improve mobility. Osteopathy
does not involve the use of drugs or surgery.
The most common condition treated
by osteopaths is low back pain, which affects two-thirds of the adult population of the UK and is the nation’s
leading cause of disability. Back pain is also very common in children and around 50% of children in Europe experience back
pain at some time.
The trouble with back pain is
that it can do more than just give you a pain in the back. It can create difficulties with walking, sitting, bending and lifting
and can even lead to depression and incontinence. It can also be the cause of pain in the buttocks, groin or legs (commonly
called sciatica), in the head, neck, shoulders and arms. It can also be one of the effects of hip, knee and
foot problems.
Back pain can result from bad
posture, a sudden jerky movement, a lumpy mattress or poor lifting techniques. It can also be caused by injury in a work place,
by a sports accident or by muscular spasms. It often occurs during pregnancy or, because of decreased flexibility, as people
get older.
Many women are working mothers
and combining both aspects of their lives can give rise to problems such as headaches and debilitating joint
& muscle pain. Many headaches originate from stiffness and tension in the neck and osteopathic treatment can
often bring relief.
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