Osteopathy
Osteopathy is an established, recognised system of diagnosis and treatment that lays its main emphasis on the structural integrity of the body.
It is distinctive in that it recognises that most of the pain and disability that we suffer stems from abnormalities in the function of the body’s structure as well as from damage caused to it by disease.
It is a way of detecting and treating damaged parts of the body (and thus alleviating pain) in tissues such as muscles, ligaments, nerves and joints. When the body is properly aligned and balanced it will function with the minimum of wear, stress and energy, thereby reducing pain and disability. It is our job as Osteopaths to help you achieve such balance.
Our main strength lies in the unique way that the patient is assessed from a mechanical, functional and postural standpoint and the manual methods of treatment applied to suit the needs of the individual patient.
Osteopaths use their hands both to investigate the underlying cause of pain and to carry out treatment using a variety of manipulative techniques. These may include muscle & connective tissue stretching (massage), rhythmic joint movements or high velocity thrust techniques to improve the range of movement of a joint.
Gentle releasing techniques are often used when treating acute pain, children or elderly patients.
The treatment you receive, then, will be designed specifically to your individual condition. I combine a number of different techniques to assist your body’s recovery and pain relief. These include spinal manipulation as mentioned above, and, in addition, cranial osteopathy, nutritional and dietary advice, natural remedies, hydrotherapy, postural and ergonomic support, rehabilitation exercises and stretching techniques.
I am registered with the G.Os.C. (the General Osteopathic Council), which is the governing body for all osteopaths in the UK.