Headache and neck pain

Indication for headaches treatment due to: • tension, muscle stiffness in the neck and upper thoracic region • joint strain in the neck and upper thoracic region • poor posture • whiplash injury • eye strain • jaw imbalance You should also seek osteopathic professional advice if the headache is accompanied by: • fever  • nausea or vomiting • bleeding or fluid draining from the nose or ears • dizziness • blurred vision or speech • numbness, tingling or paralysis.

Back And Pelvic Pain

Indication for osteopathic treatment:
• uncomplicated pain; the origin of this pain is the spinal column and paraspinal muscles and this type of is well treated by osteopathic techniques

Indication for consultation:
• complicated pain due to disc injury, fracture, tumor and infection, which requires ongoing specialist support.

Shoulder Pain

Shoulder pain is often very complex. Osteopaths are well trained to determine the cause of your pain and decide on a course of treatment.

Indication for osteopathic treatment:
• 'catching' sensation when raising the arm or reaching
• sharp pain when moving your arm
• weakness in your arm or grip
• throbbing and aching in shoulder whilst sleeping
• pain radiating down the arm
• neck and shoulder stiffness

Common shoulder injuries include:
• rotator cuff tears
• tendonitis
• shoulder impingement (subacromial bursitis) when shoulder tendons are trapped and compressed during shoulder movements
• frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) when the shoulder capsule swells and stiffens, restricting mobility
• postural tension

Elbow Pain

Indication for osteopathic treatment:
• weak grip
• pain when twisting the wrist
• constant dull ache, worse at night with numbness sensations
• sharp pain when moving the elbow joint.

Common elbow injuries include:
• tennis elbow
• golfers elbow
• radial head ligament sprains
• ulnar nerve entrapment.

Hip And Groin

The most common cause of hip pain is inflamed tendons, joint problems or it could be referred pain from your lower back.

Indication for osteopathic treatment:
• Minor and short term pain often occurs in people who perform repeated sideways movements such as soccer players and dancers
• Long term pain may be caused arthritis or bursitis. Your osteopath will work with you to improve your posture, discuss the way you move.
Indication for consultation: severe arthritis and arthrosis. Your osteopath will define indication/contraindication for surgery.

Knee Pain

Knee trauma is common from falls and collisions however most knee pain is due to altered muscle mechanics, often involving the kneecap (patellofemoral joint), especially when the thigh muscles are contracting (e.g squatting, walking up and down stairs, running). Osteopaths will determine the cause of your knee pain, contributing factors (wasting of inner thigh muscles, feet rolling inward, legs bowing inward etc.) and most importantly help you correct the mechanics of your knee and other joints.

Heel/Arch Pain

The pain in the hill area is usually due to the plantar fasciitis, rather than the heel spur itself. Inadequate arch support from poor footwear is the most common cause of plantar fasciitis. As the arch is collapsing the plantar fascia is placed under great stress and often other muscles of the foot and lower leg are working to help stabilize. The result is marked joint restriction and muscular tension with pain in the foot and lower leg. Osteopaths will work to increase the joint range of motion and flexibility of muscles in the feet and lower leg, advise you on appropriate footwear and exercises, in some situations use of arch supports may be beneficial.

Sports And Car Accident/Whiplash Injury

Osteopathic treatment involves manual techniques, including soft tissue stretching, mobilization, inhibition and manipulation.

Indication for treatment:
• neck and back strains
• shoulder, elbow and wrist injuries
• hip and pelvic injuries
• knee, leg and ankle injuries.

Pregnancy

Changes during pregnancy

As your pregnancy progresses, the extra weight creates a shift in your body’s centre of gravity. Your supporting ligaments also soften. These factors can add stress to your body, causing some problems.

Indication for osteopathic correction:
• back pain
• sciatica
• insomnia
• swelling
• fatigue

Besides osteopathic treatment your osteopath can demonstrate self-help techniques which you and your partner can use during pregnancy and labor to maximize the safety and comfort of you and your growing baby.

Birthing And Beyond  

Indication for osteopathic treatment:
• pelvic floor relaxation and descent
• low back strain
• mastitis
• urine incontinence
• interrupted sleep and fatigue

Baby And Teenagers

Osteopathic care can assist the young body to adapt to growth-related changes which can prevent other health problems. It can help your baby grow into a healthy child and, ultimately, a healthy young adult. Effective, early treatment can prevent other problems from occurring.

Indication for osteopathic correction:
• back pain and headaches
• growing pains in muscles, bones and joints
• postural problems including curvature of the spine
• period pain
• walking difficulties or foot pain
• sporting injuries
• the physical effects of cerebral palsy
• feeding difficulties
• flat head syndrome
• plagiocephaly
• ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)
• otitis
• asthma

Seniors

Many seniors mistakenly believe the effect of ageing on their body's joints is untreatable and inevitable, and they have no alternative but to learn to live a lesser life with their pain. But it’s not quite truth. Osteopathic techniques aim to maintain your health, mobility, balance, reduce further joint wear and tear, and help keep you active and independent.

Indication for osteopathic correction:
• poor balance
• general stiffness
• back, neck and arm pain
• hip and knee pain and stiffness
• arthritis and joint swelling
• post stroke condition