Osteopathy is a safe, natural type of manual therapy that focuses on the body's structure (joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments).
The aim of treatment is not only to relieve pain but to restore normal mobility as soon as possible as well as try to understand the underlying cause of the problem in order to prevent it recurring.
Osteopaths work under the principle that there may be a number of contributing factors to the symptoms and will therefore evaluate not only the area which is producing the symptoms, but also associated areas that may be contributing to the issue, including past trauma, environmental factors and the family's health history.
Osteopathy on based on the principle that the structure and function of the body are intimately related. If the structure is not balanced and healthy, then the function is affected.
Osteopaths believe that the healthy balance and function of the musculoskeletal framework of the body is essential to whole body health.
Injuries such as strained knee can lead to the whole body compensating for a limp. Stiffness elsewhere in the body, for example the back, neck or ribs can make it difficult to compensate for the limp resulting in aches and pains.
Osteopathic practice is a healthcare approach that provides a package of care that can include one or more of the following depending on the individual needs of the person:
- Manual therapy.
- Health information.
- Self-management advice and support.
- Exercise therapy.
What kinds of problems can we help with?
Osteopaths are well known for helping with back conditions and can help with many other conditions such as:
- Generalised aches and pains.
- Joint pains including hip and knee pain from osteoarthritis.
- Arthritic pain.
- General, acute and chronic back ache and back pain.
- mechanical neck pain.
- Headaches and migraine prevention.
- Shoulder pain including frozen shoulder.
- Elbow pain / tennis elbow, golfer's elbow.
- Circulatory problems.