Neck pain
There are many sources of neck pain, often it arises from from postural problems in other areas of the body as the neck is the last area to correct any general dysfunction as the body always tries to have the head level and upright. This is often caused by daily habits and muscular imbalances which can be corrected by manual therapy and exercise.
Back Pain
Back pain is a very common condition, and 80% of people in the UK experience it at some point in their life. Usually the pain will pass after several weeks but may reoccur. There can be many causes of back pain and identifying the exact reason for the pain is key to the osteopathic treatment.
Symptoms can include stiffness, aching, dull or sharp pains, altered sensations or pins and needles going down the legs, or weakness which may lead to an inability to walk.
Treatment will involve manual treatment, both to the area affected and the other areas of the body that may be involved in maintaining the pain. Lifestyle and exercise advice will be an important part of correcting the back pain.
Shoulder pain
The shoulder is a common place to experience pain, often this type of pain happens after an injury either traumatic or repetitive. This pain can result in a loss of range of movement and feeling restricted in certain activities.
The symptoms can include: sharp, stabbing, dull, aching and sometimes pins and needles that can go down into the hands.
The treatment will be different depending on the type cause of shoulder pain which will be established in the assessment but often this will consist of improving the position of the shoulder and surrounding areas (neck, back and arm) and increasing blood flow to the area to improve healing and decrease inflammation. This will be achieved both through manual and exercise therapy.
Hand, Wrist and Elbow Pain
Pain in these areas is often connected to repetitive use or injury. There are also some cases where chronic conditions or auto immune diseases affect these areas. The symptoms may range from swelling, redness, pins and needles to localised aching or burning.
Treatment will involve identifying the specific cause for the pain then addressing that locally and by reducing surrounding tension and any area that is restricting the bodies natural healing capability. Exercises and changing habitual tendencies which irritate the affected area may be key to this kind of treatment.
Hip Pain
Hip pain is a common part of aging but can also happen due to overuse or injury. This may be due to a particular event or a compensation for pain in another part of the body. Despite being a normal part of aging, a pain free experience can be achieved at any stage of life.
Symptoms typically feel pain in the groin but may cause pain down the leg or around to the outside of the hip, this can be aching, burning, sharp, pins and needles, swelling and/or stiffness . Often the pain is associated with movement, there may also be clicking and popping that can be associated with the pain.
Treatment will involve identifying the cause for the pain, manipulation, mobilisation and exercises to maintain the improvements achieved in the treatment sessions.
Knee pain
Knee pain can caused by traumatic or postural repetitive pain or sometimes due to degeneration or inflammation. Symptoms can range from mild aching to debilitating pain and in some cases surgery may be necessary to restore mobility. Even in the eventuality of surgery manual therapy and exercises have been proven to improve outcomes and reduce healing time.
The treatment will involve manual assessment and adjustment to improve the functioning of the knee and resolve any tension that may be maintaining the pain. This may involve working on the hip, back or foot and will likely involve some kind of exercise therapy to maintain the gains from the treatment.
Foot and Ankle Pain
The foot has a complex role in the body as it must work both as a shock absorber when it hits the ground and as a lever when it is used for walking, this role means it must quickly change from being mobile to becoming solid during each step. Pain often occurs when the foot fails to achieve this in walking but more so in running, this can also cause pain in other related areas of the body such as the knee, hip or back.
Treatment consists of identifying where the foot is not functioning properly and addressing that by manipulation and mobilisation. This may also mean strengthening or loosening areas of tension or weakness to fix the malfunctioning aspect of the foot. Exercises are likely to be vital to seeing a full recovery in this area.