Things we can help you with.

Our specialist expertise

“A more subtle form of treatment – Cranial Osteopathy.”

In addition to a range of traditional osteopathic techniques, Helen is trained and experienced in cranial osteopathy. Cranial osteopathy is suitable for a patient of any age, including babies, very young children and the elderly, and it doesn’t just concern the head, as the name suggests. It uses very gentle manipulative pressure to encourage the release of stresses throughout the whole body.

You or your child may feel warmth or pressure during the treatment and often, people feel that the tension is gradually being drawn out of their body. Occasionally, people may experience aches and pains that are mild and short-lived.

If your child has received treatment, they may be relaxed afterwards and sleep well. Sometimes they can become more energetic for a while but sleep well that night, while others may take a few days to settle after the treatment.

Babies and Toddlers

During childbirth, a baby’s body is subject to powerful pressure and this can cause very mild disturbances in their musculoskeletal framework, leading to subtle imbalances that are difficult to detect: tension in the head for example, or affected nerve supplies to any part of the body.

To release these tensions and pressures, we use a very gentle form of osteopathy called ‘cranial osteopathy’. Not all osteopaths offer cranial osteopathy, but we have over 15 years’ experience in this area.

Sports Injuries

Sports activities are a regular way of life for many of us now, and involve people from across all age groups from those who have an avid interest to those who just wish to keep fit; from the elite professional to the casual participant. Many of the injuries are the result of overuse i.e. playing too hard and too often e.g. tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, and biceps tendinitis, or from not warming up properly beforehand or from not warming down after exercise.

Sometimes incorrect equipment can lead to injuries — ill-fitting footwear can cause hip, knee and foot injuries (e.g. Achilles injuries). Reduced joint flexibility will affect the degree of performance and may result in injury if the player is unaware that they cannot perform to the same level as they used to, for example golfers who cannot turn at the waist as well as they used to, and the enthusiastic older footballer whose knees do not bend as well as they once did.

Young people especially are vulnerable in sport as their growing bodies are often expected to perform to high standards and are putting exceptional physical demands on themselves.

The good news is that although sports injuries are common, those who are fit tend to recover more quickly and easily from their injuries.

Work & Driving

Are you fit for work? Occupational injuries account for many millions of working days lost each year in Britain. No matter whether your work is in the office or outside on the land you need to be able to cope with the individual demands made on your body by the style of work you do.

Manual work inevitably carries the inherent risk of injury caused by heavy and often awkward lifting, overstretching, and periods of prolonged bending causing back and disc injuries, sciatica, and muscle strains.

In the office where desk work is more common, there are the dangers of ‘computer hump’ and ‘mouse wrist’, whilst frequent telephone use affects the neck and shoulders causing headaches and carpal tunnel syndrome etc. Those who drive for a living need to be aware of their driving position as it affects not only their back, neck and shoulders but also can affect hips, knees and feet.

Ask an osteopath for advice on the correct driving position for you and any exercises which may help.

Back Pain

Trouble with your back does not simply produce pain in the back. Often it may cause symptoms in more remote areas such as the buttocks, groin, hips, and legs (commonly called sciatica). Problems in the spine and neck can also cause symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, clicking jaw, pins and needles and many more. Indeed research has shown that problems related to the back may affect over 60% of the UK’s population at some stage in their lives. Osteopaths are trained professionals who are skilled in diagnosing problems, including those which may require further investigation if necessary. Around 30,000 people currently consult osteopaths every working day with more than seven million consultations carried out every year (General Osteopathic Council). NICE (the National Institute of Clinical Excellence) guidelines recommend manipulative therapies including osteopathy for the treatment of low back pain.

Your treatment…

Osteopaths use a wide range of gentle manipulations, depending on your age, fitness and diagnosis. Treatment is different for every patient but may include techniques such as different types of soft tissue massage and joint articulation to release tension, stretch muscles, help relieve pain and mobilise your joints. Sometimes, when we move joints you may hear a ‘click’. This is just like the click people get when they crack their knuckles.