Who is osteopathy for?
Osteopathy is suitable for almost everyone and aims to improve the function of the nerves, muscles and joints of the body by using non-invasive, hands-on manual therapy techniques.
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Osteopathic patients include the young, older people, manual workers, office professionals, pregnant women, babies and sports people.
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Osteopathic practice aims to support the optimal environment for health in those we treat by providing health guidance, manual therapy and exercise advice, tailored to the individual needs of those under our care.
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Osteopaths are trained to check for signs of serious conditions they cannot treat. In these circumstances, they will inform you of what they believe is the problem and refer you to see your GP or hospital for further investigations.
Babies and children
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Babies' and children's skeletons are softer and more complex than an adult's and osteopaths will therefore use gentler techniques such as cranial osteopathy when treating, meaning there is no discomfort for your child during treatment. In fact, gentle manipulation can help soothe and relax your baby.
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Osteopathic techniques are suitable for children at all stages of development and an assessment of your child will be taken at initial consultation to see what might help. Osteopaths are trained to screen for medical conditions and will tell you if you need to see another health professional such as your doctor or midwife.
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Hannah has undertaken postgraduate training in treating babies and children. She has treated babies as young as 1 week old, right through to children in their teens. She is also experienced in treating children competing in different levels of sport, including dance, athletics, rowing, gymnastics and football.​
Osteopathy for pregnant and postnatal women
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A woman’s body changes during pregnancy. Those changes include the softening of ligaments, weight increase and changes to posture, which can lead to additional pressure on joints in various parts of the body, including the spine or pelvis.
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Osteopathy may help relieve the stresses and strains on your body during pregnancy and after birth. It can also help with any discomfort that may arise from looking after the newborn.
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Osteopaths are trained to treat women during and after pregnancy with safe and gentle techniques. Osteopaths are trained to screen for medical conditions and will tell you if you need to see another health professional such as your doctor or midwife.
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Sport and Injuries
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Individuals who enjoy and take part in sporting activities often seek osteopathic treatment to help prevent injury as well as using osteopathy to aid in rehabilitation from injury.
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Osteopathy can assist in maintaining optimum physical health in order to prevent injuries from occurring. Osteopaths can also advise on diet and exercise routines to help with recovery from injury and injury prevention.
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Osteopaths can identify muscular, connective tissue or joint problems and will assess whether these are having wider implications in your body.
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Your osteopath will treat these problems accordingly using a combination of techniques suited to the individual, to ensure your body is in its optimum state so you can perform to your full capacity.
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Getting older
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Everybody gets grey hair and wrinkles as they age, In the same way, it is normal for muscles, bones, joints and associated tissues to change. Ageing does not necessarily mean that we will experience increased pain or stiffness.
However, if this does become a problem, people often find that treatment and advice from an osteopath can complement GP care and pharmaceutical products. If you do begin to notice problems, an osteopath can work with you to keep you healthier, allowing you to enjoy the pleasures of life into your later years.
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Many people find it helpful to talk to an osteopath about ways of keeping active, preventing common problems such as falls, or managing conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatic pain and osteoporosis. Osteopathic care is based on the individual needs of the patient and so varies depending on your age, fitness levels and diagnosis. Osteopaths use a wide range of gentle hands-on techniques, focusing on releasing tension, stretching muscles and improving mobility.
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Headaches
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There are several reasons for headaches. Most are not serious and once the cause is established headaches can often be helped by simple changes in lifestyle. One cause can be tension or strain in the muscles and joints of the neck and upper back.
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Treatment from an osteopath may help. Gentle massage to the tight muscles and manipulation to loosen the joints of the neck, thorax and back can relieve the build-up of muscular tension that may lead to headaches. Osteopaths can also advise on exercise and lifestyle changes and offer guidance on simple changes to your posture when at work or driving which may help.
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