Osteopaths treat a wide variety of conditions that affect the musculo-skeletal system and through which can give rise to a wide range of problems. Amongst the more commonly treated problems are included:-
Arthritis and Rheumatism
- Osteo-arthritis, sometimes referred to as wear and tear can give stiffness and local pain in the affected joint. Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory condition that can affect joints and also the whole body, leading to burning, swelling and pain. Osteopathic treatment can improve mobility and reduce the severity of the joint stiffness experienced in both cases.
- Lumbago
- Sciatica
- Disc problems
- There have been a large number of studies that show that treatments designed to improve the mobility of the spine after the development of a painful lesion can speed up the recovery. Whether the pain has arisen through an accident or fall or whether as a result of faulty posture Osteopathic treatment can be very effective in dealing with the problem.
- Sciatic pain can arise when the large nerve into the legs is irritated at some point during its course. Often this can be within the back and again mobilisation by using osteopathic techniques can offer significant help to sufferers.
- Disc problems - conservative treatments such as Osteopathy can help settle an irritable disc which may be giving rise to considerable local and referred pain.
Knee and elbow problems
- pain can arise in these joints due to local damage to muscles, tendons and ligaments. Pain can also be caused by problems causing irritation of the nerve supply to these joints at locations remote from the joint. Osteopaths will determine the cause of the pain and treat the source of the problem.
Gynaecological and other problems
Menstrual problems
- pre-menstrual tension - breast tenderness, abdominal bloating, swelling of the feet, legs and arms, mood swings can be exaggerated by mobility and muscle problems in the upper and lower back. Gentle osteopathic manipulation, massage and lymphatic drainage techniques can reduce the severity of such problems.
- painful periods can be a problem for many women and can be associated with abdominal pain that can radiate into the back and sometimes into the legs. Mobility restrictions in the lower back and pelvic region can cause such symptoms by irritating the nerves to the uterus which can then give rise to pain. Gentle Osteopathic manipulation can often be helpful in such situations.
Cystitis
- true cystitis is caused by inflammation of the bladder, often as a result of infection. In the absence of infection however, mobility problems in the pelvic region can irritate the local nerve supply and cause symptoms very much like those of cystitis - pain in the lower abdomen and a frequent desire to pass urine.
The Menopause
- very often minor mobility restrictions, especially in the neck and upper back region, can exaggerate the general problems experienced by women going through this change. Gentle osteopathic treatment can correct these problems and assist in general relaxation to reduce the symptoms such as fatigue, depression, tingling in the arms and legs and hot flushes and sweating associated with the menopause.
Pregnancy
- Amongst the many changes in a women's body that occur during pregnancy, it is the change in posture that has to be adopted and the change in the centre of gravity that can have a major effect on the incidence of back pain. The change in posture can also cause pre-existing problems to reoccur. An osteopathic evaluation before pregnancy can help prevent any reoccurrence. During the later stages of pregnancy osteopathic treatment can help control back discomfort and enable the delivery to be less stressful than it might otherwise be.
Neuralgia
- mobility problems in the spine or in other joints can lead to pain due to localised irritation of the nerves. This can result in pain sensations far from the source of the problem. Osteopaths can diagnose the cause and then offer effective treatment to help resolve the problem.
Neck pains
- Muscle spasm or joint irritation in the neck due to postural problems or as result of accident can not only give severe local pain but can also cause pain in the shoulders and arms. This can sometimes result in numbness or 'pins and needles' in the arm or fingers. This is a problem that can benefit from osteopathic manipulation. This manipulation does not mean cracking of joints or bones but involves a combination of very gentle techniques including stretching and gently moving joints to restore their natural range of mobility and allow the irritation to subside.
Pain
- pain is a warning that something is wrong. Rather than masking the pain an Osteopath will seek out the cause of the pain and treat it at its source. Sometimes this can be due to damage to joints etc. causing irritation to nerves which may be remote from the site of the pain. Analgesics can help control the level of pain: Osteopathic treatment will tackle the cause.
Pelvic lesions & Groin pain
- the bones forming the pelvic girdle move slightly during walking and in bending and twisting. Sometimes positional faults can arise in the joints between the bones which leads to local inflammation and tenderness and can result in pain being felt into the groin or buttock region and often into the knees and legs. These problems often arise following some trauma but can become a long standing problem if not treated properly. Osteopathic treatment can help to restore the normal functional relationship between the joints and reduce the associated pain.
Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)
- damage to joints, muscles and ligaments can occur as a consequence of repetitive movements made over a prolonged period, especially when the movement involves a degree of force or if it is slightly awkward in nature. This can lead to considerable discomfort in the local joint and can affect joints and muscles some distance away as the body seeks to minimise the effect of the problem. Osteopathic analysis of the problem can help to reduce the level of discomfort and also often help the patient address the cause of the problem.
Shoulder pain and frozen shoulder
- accidents or falls involving the shoulder joint can often lead to what is called frozen shoulder which is a condition in which movement becomes progressively reduced and painful. In other cases it may lead to damage to muscles, tendons and ligaments around the joint. An osteopath will be able to determine the nature of the problem and use an appropriate technique to help in the restoration of function.
Sports Injuries
- many sports injuries result in problems in joint, muscles and ligaments. Osteopaths are specially trained in the diagnosis of malfunctions in these particular areas which may arise out of a long term problem or overuse. Sports injuries whether arising from an accident or whether of a more long term nature respond well to osteopathic treatment.
Stress and tension headaches
- Muscle spasm in the upper neck can often be the cause of so called tension headaches. General stress, anxiety and poor posture can often exacerbate the problem. Osteopathic treatment helps muscles to relax to calm the nervous system and reduce the incidence of headaches.