Osteopathy

Osteopathy is a form of manual healthcare that recognises the important link between the structure of the body and the way it functions. Osteopaths focus on how the skeletal system, joints, muscles nerves, circulation, connective tissue, and internal organs function as a holistic unit.

Using skilled evaluation, diagnosis and a wide range of hands-on techniques, osteopaths can identify dysfunction in your body. Osteopathic treatment uses techniques such as stretching and massage for general treatment of the soft tissues (muscles, tendons, and ligaments) along with mobilisation of specific joints and soft tissues.

Conditions we treat:

• Joint pain such as shoulder, hip, or ankle
• Soft tissue injuries
• Neck pain
• Headaches, Migraines
• Whiplash
• Temporomandibular joint disfunction
• Trigeminal neuralgia
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Back pain, Sciatica
• Tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow and more…

Visceral Manipulation

Viscera relates to the internal organs of the body, such as the liver, kidneys, and intestines.

Organs lose mobility due to physical trauma, surgery, lifestyle, infection, pollution, diet, posture, pregnancy, and such. When an organ is restricted and fixed to another structure, the body is forced to compensate. This creates abnormal points of tension and chronic irritation gives way to functional and structural problems.

Imagine scar tissue around the lungs. Every breath requires movement, but the scar tissue alters the normal pattern. This could shift rib movement creating pulls on the spine resulting in mid-back and neck pain and limit shoulder movement. This example just highlights just one of the hundreds of possible ramifications of a small dysfunction.

Visceral manipulation is a gentle manual therapy that aids your body’s ability to release restrictions and unhealthy compensations that cause pain and dysfunctions. The therapist feels for the altered or decreased motion within the viscera, as well as restrictive patterns throughout the body and helps the body to restore itself to health.

Visceral Manipulation Benefits:

• Whiplash
• Seatbelt Injuries
• Sports Injuries
• Spinal Dysfunction
• Lower back pain & Sciatica
• Carpal Tunnel
• Joint pain
• Digestive Disorders
• Acid Reflux
• Post-operative Scar Tissue Pain
• Swallowing dysfunctions
• Colic
• Anxiety & Depression and more…

Cranial Osteopathy

It is a very gentle, light touch technique to release restriction in the fascia and the CranioSacral system – the fluid membrane that nourish and protect the brain and the spinal cord – to promote optimal functioning and reduced pain.

Because it is so gentle, it is proven to be effective for all ages, from newborn to the elderly.

CranioSacral Therapy has been observed to improve the following conditions:

• Headaches and Migraines
• Scoliosis
• Alzheimer’s and Dementia
• Chronic Neck and Back Pain
• Chronic Fatigue
• Fibromyalgia
• TMJ Syndrome
• Learning Disabilities
• Post-Concussion Symptoms
• Infant and Childhood Disorders
• Improve balance and vestibular control
• Enhance endocrine system function and pituitary function
• Significant improvement in insomnia

Dry Needling 

Dry needling reduces local and referred pain, improves range of motion and muscle activation pattern, and alters the chemical environment of trigger point.
Dry needling is performed with the same solid filament needle acupuncturists employ, but dry needling does not require any knowledge of traditional acupuncture theory or Oriental health concepts.
Dry needling is considered an instrument-assisted manual therapy technique, and it is not used as a stand-alone therapy, rather in conjunction with osteopathic techniques to reduce muscle spasms and to increase range of motion.
How does it work? Needling causes a minute trauma to the cells and very small, invisible microdamage. This lesion activates the immune response, thus promoting tissue healing and the restoration of homeostatic balance, which stimulates restorative control mechanisms and results in healing of the whole body. Local tissue healing and pain relief are accelerated.

SCENAR

SCENAR stands for Self-Controlling Energy Neuro-Adaptive Regulator and is a small handheld machine used to treat painful nerve, joint and muscle conditions, and injuries.

The SCENAR machine is held against the body and emits short electromagnetic pulses or waves, which travel along the central nervous system to the brain. The pulses are very similar to the body’s nerve signals so the brain reacts by producing neuropeptides and endorphins, which reduce the sensation of pain.
Unlike painkillers, which stop the brain from trying to address the source of the pain through healing, SCENAR doesn’t mask pain. It works with the brain and central nervous system to produce mediators, hormones, and other chemicals to redirect the body’s focus onto the painful condition or injury and encourages it to heal itself.

SCENAR provides lasting relief from acute and chronic pain and takes the body right through the healing process to recovery, it can either complement your osteopathy treatment or be used as a standalone therapy. By stimulating the body’s natural healing process, SCENAR is a highly effective way of relieving pain, and aids recovery from a range of conditions.

During treatment the electromagnetic signals are adjusted until they create a gentle prickling or tingling sensation, we will make sure that you are comfortable throughout the treatment.

Everyone can benefit from SCENAR therapy regardless of their age. It helps people with all sorts of short- and long-term musculoskeletal conditions, and injuries.

After SCENAR therapy you may feel more relaxed and enjoy better quality sleep. If you have a pacemaker, you are or may be pregnant, or you suffer from epilepsy you are advised not to have SCENAR therapy.

It is NOT A TENS machine!
TENS machines and other electrotherapy machines use mild electrical signals to stimulate the nerves, but SCENAR is the only device that uses continuous two-way biofeedback. By monitoring the body’s electromagnetic signals, modifying them, and sending them back to the body, SCENAR is able to assess and emit the right signals to best aid the body’s natural processes.

Conditions SCENAR is used to treat:

• Back pain
• Sport injuries
• Arthritis
• Osteoarthritis
• Neck pain
• Headache & migraine
• Trigeminal Neuralgia
• Frozen shoulder
• Tennis elbow
• Joint pains
• Lumbago
• Sciatica
• Neuralgia
• Fibromyalgia
• Rheumatic pain
• Circulatory problems
• Digestive issues
• Muscle spasms
• Cramp
• Generalised aches & pains

Myofascial Cupping

The history of cupping dates back as early as 3,000 BC in Egyptian, Greek and Asian cultures where the intention was to affect energy meridians as well as physical structures.
The modern-day adaptation of Myofascial Cupping is where a cup is applied to the skin and the pressure is the cup is reduced by suctioning out air, so that the skin and superficial muscle layer is drawn into and held in the cup. In some cases, the cup may be moved while the suction of skin is active, causing a regional pulling of the skin and muscle and therefore a broader release.
Most manual therapy techniques involve positive pressure of pushing into the body, however Myofascial Cupping is unique in that negative pressure is the means for changing tissue adhesions. Though the skin may be temporarily discoloured by red rings or hickey-like marks from the suction in the cup, this is not the intention of the therapy and therefore the success of the treatment is not gauged in this way.

Orofacial Myology

Orofacial myology, also known as orofacial myofunctional therapy, is the treatment of the orofacial muscles to improve muscle function and tone.

It establishes correct functional activities of the lips, tongue, and mandible, so that normal growth and development may take place and progress in a stable and balanced environment.

It is establishing and restoring the correct muscle function for speech development, mastication, and breathing.

Benefits of orofacial myofunctional therapy are:

• Improved posture
• Improved speech
• Improved eating habits
• Improved tongue rest position
• Tongue tie problems
• Helping with noxious oral habits -thumb sucking, nail biting
• Sleep apnoea

Kinesiology Taping

Kinesiology taping was developed by a Japanese chiropractor Dr Kenzo Kase. It can be used effectively in any sports or non-sports related setting.
Most types of athletic tape have very little or no stretch, however kinesiology tape is very elastic and can be stretched to 120-180% of its original size. When non-elastic athletic tape is applied to an injury, the rigidity of the tape can cause a restriction, or it can even prevent movement of the taped area. This is desirable for severe injuries where immobilisation is necessary to prevent further damage, however most injuries does not require full immobilisation. The flexibility of Kinesiology tape is well used in these cases as it provides support to injured muscles and joints, while allowing a safe and pain-free range of motion. This enables patients and athletes to continue training or competing while they recover from pain as well as minor to moderate sport related injuries.

Kinesiology tape can be worn for many days as opposed to conventional tapes. Also, most kinesiology taping products have a unique acrylic-based adhesive that is normally latex free and hypoallergenic as oppose to the adhesive applied to conventional tapes, which is commonly called Zinc Oxide and this sometimes leaves a residue on the skin, some patients have been known to have an adverse reaction to this adhesive.

Any type of injury or trauma to the body will set off the body’s natural protective mechanism, known as inflammatory response e.g. pain, swelling, heat and restricted movement. Swelling causes pressure and pressure causes pain, to reduce pain, the pressure needs to be reduced. This is achievable with Kinesiology tape as it encourages fluid to move freely by lifting the skin, and this allows more blood to flow into the injured area, thereby accelerating recovery and repair and allow lymph fluid to drain from area, thus decreasing inflammation.

Summary of the uses for Kinesiology Taping:

• Provides support for weak or injured muscles without affecting the normal range of motion. this allows full participation in therapeutic exercises and/or sports training and minimises the risk of developing compensatory imbalances or injuries.
• Activates muscles that have been weakened after injury or surgery, improving the quality of contractions and speeding up the recovery process.
• Stabilises the area without restricting the movement like conventional athletic tape.
• The athlete and patient can remain active during the sport/activity.
• Relaxes, and can offload, overused and overstrained muscles.
• Assists the re-education of the neuromuscular system.
• Accelerates blood flow to the injured area to speed up the healing process.
• Helps to reduce pain.
• Reduces oedema by removal of lymphatic fluid.
• Corrects postural imbalance and improves range of motion.
• Inhibits muscles that are tight, fatigued or overused and allows them to relax.
• Helps prevent injury.

Lymphatic Drainage

Manual lymphatic drainage assists the body with the removal of metabolic waste, excess fluid, bacteria, large protein molecules and foreign substances from the body’s tissues. This helps to relieve fluid congestion and restore the body’s natural fluid levels. The massage technique uses light, rhythmic pumping movements intended to mimic the natural action of the body’s lymphatic system. This stimulates the lymphatic vessels which carry substances vital to the defence of the body and removes metabolic waste products.

Lymphatic drainage massage can be included as part of the osteopathy session or a stand-alone treatment to improve general health and well-being.

The benefits of Lymphatic Drainage Massage

• is both preventative and remedial and can enhance your well-being.
• is deeply relaxing.
• promotes the healing of fractures, torn ligaments, sprains and lessens the pain.
• can improve many chronic conditions: sinusitis, rheumatoid arthritis, acne, and other skin conditions.
• may strengthen the immune system.
• relieves fluid congestion: swollen ankles, tired puffy eyes, and swollen legs due to pregnancy.
• Treating Lymphoedema following breast cancer treatment
• is an effective component of the treatment and control of lymphoedema and assists in conditions arising from venous insufficiency.
• promotes healing of wounds and burns and improves the appearance of old scars.
• minimises or reduces stretch marks.