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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, minor sports injuries, repetitive strain injuries (RSI), pain from conditions such as arthritis,
joint and muscular pain, 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.
 There is an old song that goes "The foot bone’s connected to the ankle
bone, the ankle bone’s connected to the leg bone… etc".
There is a lot of truth in this. The body is very interconnected and when one part is injured and out of balance, it can
have a very wide-ranging effect. For example: over time, limping can create
neck pain and headaches as various muscles and joints tighten to compensate for the uneven way of walking.
It can be more subtle than this. Tight muscles and joints can affect nerves and circulation.
Internal organs or quite distant areas of the body can be affected by, for example, a problem in the back. For this reason
Osteopathy works to restore the whole body to balance. This is why, although you may consult an osteopath for a pain in your
knee, they will still need to take a full medical history and examine your whole frame.
"The knee bone's connected to the thigh bone …"
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