Osteopaths work with the nerves, muscles, ligaments and joints. You can be referred by a GP to an osteopath, or visit one privately. Osteopaths take a general medical history as well as addressing the physical symptom which may even stem from a cause such as anxiety or a sudden movement. They may manipulate a part of your body which needs to be released, and you will hear a “crack” or a “pop” which is the sound of gas bubbles dissipating from a joint. It is nothing to alarm you and will help to ease movement, and reduce pain. All osteopaths have to be registered by law by with the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC).
Pregnancy:
For many women, pregnancy means having to cope with various symptoms from low back pain and morning sickness to indigestion. This is usually caused by the changes that are taking place in the ligaments and muscles as the baby grows and as hormonal changes occur.Osteopathic treatment during pregnancy and after birth is gentle, including rhythmic mobilisation of joints, relaxation and stretching of muscles, soft tissue massage and subtle release techniques to help the body adjust to changes and feel more comfortable
Low back pain As weight increases, the centre of gravity changes which results in many women suffering from low back pain.
Upper Back pain Similarly, as breast weight increases, a woman’s upper back may also be cause for complaint.
Heartburn Pressure of the baby on the diaphragm.
Headaches, digestive and circulatory problems. As ligaments become slightly looser, old problems may recur or this may contribute towards new problems, especially low back pain, headaches, digestive and circulatory problems.
The birth process may lead to problems for the mother - the most frequent being back pain - gentle treatment soon after the birth can help the mothers body return to a state of balance more quickly.
Osteopathy for Babies and Children
Osteopathic treatment of babies and children is a very gentle method of easing problems and discomfort and is usually undertaken by osteopaths who hold an accredited post graduate qualification in paediatric osteopathy.
After delivery, ideally both mother and baby should return to the osteopath for a post-natal check-up. Birth is one of the most stressful processes that our bodies go through. The head is compressed greatly during birth. The bones of the skull are very soft and mobile at this stage and they bend or overlap to accommodate to being squeezed through the birth canal. A long or difficult birth are even more stressful for the baby.
Although many babies have oddly shaped or bruised heads, usually the head rights itself after birth - this unmoulding process is assisted by breathing, sucking, crying, yawning and a ‘memory’ held within the bones of ‘where they should be’. A prolonged birth, a ventouse or forceps delivery and foetal distress can all affect this righting process.
Sometimes, birth or intrauterine stresses are not fully resolved - these stresses often manifest within the head or the body within weeks or months.
Some of the usual childhood ailments can be traced back to unresolved intrauterine or birth strains as some patterns within the system manifest as the child grows older with symptoms of wheeze, glue ear, ear or chest infections; even behavioural problems and hyperactivity may have some roots in these unresolved problems.
Having a treatment:
After taking a case history, finding out about the birth and performing a gentle structural examination, treatment is given by applying specific gentle release techniques on the head, torso, pelvis or limbs to encourage the body to release strain patterns and return to a more balanced, more normal state.
Gently releasing any tensions in the baby’s body can often relieve discomfort that might otherwise be put down to colic or fretfulness.
Early treatment often helps to prevent imbalances from becoming chronic musculoskeletal problems for example, a tight neck or torticollis can develop into a positional plagiocephaly (flat side of their head).
Many recent problems often resolve with 3 - 6 treatments, some longer term conditions do best with regular check-ups.
Written with the help of The Amersham Osteopathic Clinic
