Osteopathy – Book Now | Phil McDowell

OSTEOPATHY

What is osteopathy?

Osteopathy is a system of treating problems of the musculoskeletal system. It recognises the importance of the link between the structure of the human body and the way it functions. Osteopaths focus on the body’s skeleton and joint function along with the surrounding muscles, soft tissue and internal organs.

Osteopaths consider each person as an individual, and utilising a highly developed sense of touch, they are able to identify problem areas of the body. Using gentle stretching and mobilising techniques as well as manipulating joints, an osteopath works with the body to create the right conditions to facilitate the healing process.

Treatment usually consists of a combination of soft-tissue releasing techniques, and some specific adjustments affecting joints and soft-tissues (muscles, tendons and ligaments). Advice can also be given on self-help treatments.

What’s the process?

Before your visit

Prior to your visit there are a number of things you can do that will ensure you make the most out of your visit, and make the process of case history taking and examination more effective and efficient.

Whether your problem is of recent origin or more long term, it is useful to think about when the problem first started and importantly ‘how’ it started, in addition to:

• What makes the pain worse and/or better

• Type of pain

• Your lifestyle

First visit

During your first visit we will take a full and in-depth history of your problem, including past and present medical case history. A physical examination will be carried out (you may be asked to remove some clothing, in preparation please wear appropriate underwear and sports/gym wear is preferable). You will be asked to perform a few simple movements to assess the problem. The sense of touch, called palpation, will also be used to assess areas of weakness, tenderness, restriction, or strain within your body.

A working diagnosis will be made and discussed with you, and we will also assess whether osteopathic treatment is suitable. Treatment will be aimed at reducing pain and helping to restore normal joint stability and function, promoting health, and preventing recurrence of symptoms.

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Treatment time frames

The first consultation and treatment will last approximately 1 hour and subsequent treatments usually last up to half an hour, and normally between 2 and 6 sessions are required, although this may vary depending on the individual. Many patients decide that they would like to have periodic preventative treatments to avoid recurring problems.

PRICING

Before your visit

Whether your problem is of recent origin or more long term, it is useful to think about when the problem first started and importantly ‘how’ it started, in addition to:

• What makes the pain worse and/or better

• Type of pain

• Your lifestyle

First visit

Treatment time frames

PRICING

The Niel-Asher Technique

Frozen shoulder Syndrome (FSS), or Adhesive Capsulitis to give it its medical name, is a poorly understood condition affecting the shoulder which causes significant pain and debilitation with reduced movement for anything between 12- 36 months. It is estimated to affect as many as 2 to 5% of the population.

In the early phase it is characterised by exquisite sharp catching spasms, sometimes for no reason at all. Another characteristic of the early phase is night pain. This can wake you at night, disturbing your sleep and depleting your energy.

Another key feature of all phases of a frozen shoulder is the loss of shoulder and arm movement. The stiffness can be very severe, especially when reaching behind your back or above your head. The important feature of this stiffness is that you can’t lift the shoulder but neither can anyone else lift it for you – it is completely stiff and locked. Other conditions can cause the shoulder to stiffen but typically, only in certain movement directions.

A number of treatment options have been employed for this condition, from manual therapies to steroid injections, to manipulation under anaesthetic.

The Niel-Asher Technique (NAT) is a manual therapy approach developed by osteopath Simeon Niel-Asher and has been shown clinically to significantly shorten the time taken to resolve the problem, in a significantly high number of cases.