Why see an osteopath?

What is osteopathy?

Osteopathic treatment is a holistic approach to healthcare, focusing on the relationship between the body's structure and function. Your osteopathic treatment will involve a thorough history and detailed assessment to develop an effective treatment plan, unique to you. Our team may use a variety of manual techniques including massage, mobilisation, manipulation, stretching, cupping and dry needling to reduce pain and improve mobility and overall wellness. Exercise rehabilitation may also be included during your osteopathic treatment, incorporating targeted exercise programming to promote functional movement and enhance recovery.

Our team educates and empowers their patients to take charge of their health, by providing them with the knowledge and tools needed to understand their bodies and make informed decisions about their wellbeing. At VIP Osteopathy, we pride ourselves on our professional service, integrity, and the lasting relationships we build with our patients. This patient-centred approach considers not only the physical symptoms but the lifestyle and environment of the individual, aiming to restore balance within the body and enhance its natural ability to heal.

Osteopaths may support patients with a variety of common conditions and issues. Frequently encountered presentations in osteopathic practice include;

Lower Back Pain

Low back pain (LBP) may commonly occur due to irritation of the joints or discs in the lower back following heavy or repetitive bending, or lifting. Sitting for prolonged periods or with poor posture, such as desk based work, may also cause strain to the lower back. Osteopaths will assess the movement and function of the lumbar spine and surrounding structures including the thoracic spine or hips, to determine any imbalances that may be contributing to the lower back pain.

Neck and Shoulder Pain

Pain occurring in the neck, mid back or shoulder often arises from poor posture when sleeping, repetitive strain from desk based work, or following injuries such as whiplash or concussion. This pain may be due to dysfunction in the facet joints, discs or surrounding musculature to the cervical and upper thoracic spine. Our osteopaths also assess for dysfunctions in the surrounding areas, including the head and shoulders, to identify factors that may be contributing to the pain.

Headaches and migraines may arise due to a variety of causes including; tightness in the muscles of the neck and upper back, hormonal changes, stress or tension, irritation of the sinuses, physical activity and genetics. Individualised osteopathic examination and treatment may help with the frequency and intensity of headaches.

Headaches and Migraines

TMJ - Jaw Pain

The temporomandibular joint, also known as the TMJ, is the joint which connects the jaw bone (mandible) to skull. The TMJ has a role in eating, speaking and making facial expressions. Pain in the TMJ may occur due to grinding of the teeth, clenching of the jaw. TMJ pain may commonly be associated with neck or shoulder pain, due to contributing factors including stress, or poor posture associated with increased time spent at a desk or using devices increasing tension and strain in the surrounding muscles.

Plantarfasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is commonly caused by repetitive strain on the plantar fascia, which is a ligament connecting the toes to the heel bone. Inflammation in the plantar fascia may often be due to prolonged standing, sudden increase in exercise such as walking or running, wearing unsupportive footwear, weight gain or due to the structure of the foot and ankle with flat feet or high arches. Your osteopath may be able to address biomechanical and lifestyle factors help with the symptoms associated with plantarfasciitis to enable you to return to running or walking.

Runner's knee, or patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS), may occur following repetitive running, climbing stairs or squatting. PFPS may be occur due to overuse causing muscular imbalances and irritation of the muscles around the knee cap. Osteopathic treatment help manage runner's knee by addressing muscle imbalances and mproving joint alignment in the lumbar spine, hip, knee and ankle and supporting good movement patterns to alleviate strain on the knee joints.

Runner's knee

Sciatica

Sciatica is a term that is used to refer to pain in the lower back which radiates along the pathway of the sciatic nerve, from the lumbar spine into the hip and down the leg. The sciatic nerve can be irritated in the lumbar spine due to disc herniation or degeneration, spinal stenosis, or bone spurs that compress the nerve. Similar to low back pain, this may occur after bending or lifting. Tightness of the muscles in the hip such as the gluteals or piriformus can exacerbate sciatic nerve irritation. Osteopathic may help allevaite the symptoms associated with sciatic by improving spinal mobility, reducing muscle tightness and nerve irritation.

Osteoarthritis and Joint pain

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint condition characterised by the breakdown of cartilage, leading to pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility. It commonly affects weight-bearing joints like the knees, hips, and spine. Osteopathic treatment may help with management of joint pain by using manual therapy to improve mobility and joint function and using exercise rehabilitation to improve joint mobility and stability.

Sports injuries are injuries that occur to muscles, ligaments, tendons, or bones during physical activity. These injuries can result from overuse, improper technique, or collisions and accidents. Examples of sports injuries include; a stress fracture from overuse, a torn hamstring or an ankle sprain. Osteopaths can support you throughout your recovery and return to sport by promoting healing through manual therapy and tailored rehabilitation exercises.

Sports Injuries

Tendinopathy

Tendinopathy refers to the degeneration or inflammation of a tendon, commonly caused by overuse, repetitive strain, or aging. Common examples include achillies tendinitis in the heel, golfer's and tennis elbow at the elbow, repetitive strain injury (RSI) in the wrist and jumper's knee or patellar tendinopathy in the knee. Osteopathy treatment may aid recovery from tendinopathies with the use of manual therapy to reduce muscular tension and improve blood flow, and supporting healing with tailored rehabilitation exercises.

Chronic Pain - Fibromyalgia

Chronic pain is pain that persists for greater than three months or longer than the usual tissue healing timeframe for that injury. Fibromyalgia is a common condition of involving chronic musculoskeletal pain and discomfort, with associated symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, jaw pain and difficulty sleeping. Osteopathic treatment may be incorporated as apart of the treatment plan for someone with chronic pain by using manual therapy to assist with improving mobility and reducing pain.

Pregnancy-related discomfort often arises from hormonal changes, weight redistribution, and the body adapting to a growing baby. Pregnant women may commonly experience discomfort in the lower back, pelvis, hips, and upper back due to weight redistribution and changes in posture, which may also cause an increase in frequency of headaches. Osteopathic treatment on a pregnant patient may include gentle manual thereapy techniques and exercise prescription to maintain range of motion throughout the pregnancy.

Pregnancy Related Discomfort

Rotator Cuff Injuries

Rotator cuff injuries involve damage to the muscles and tendons that stabilise the shoulder joint. These injuries are often caused by repetitive overhead movements, heavy lifting, or sudden trauma. Common presentations of rotator cuff injuries involve shoulder pain, stiffness or weakness when lifting the arm or reaching overhead, reduced shoulder range of motion or difficulty sleeping due to discomfort in the shoulder.

Hip Pain

Hip pain may feel like discomfort or aching in or around the hip joint and groin. Hip pain can result from various causes, including arthritis, overuse injuries, trauma or a compensatory strain following lower back dysfunction. Discomfort in the outer hip and buttocks may be due to muscular strain or bursitis. Osteopathic examination can help determine if hip pain is due to dysfunction in the muscles, ligaments, bone or cartilage of the hip.

Bursa are small, fluid-filled sacs that support joints and reduce friction between muscles, ligaments and bones. Bursitis occurs when the bursa become inflamed following repetitive movements, overuse, or trauma. Bursitis can present with pain, swelling, and restricted mobility and commonly occurs in the shoulder, elbow, hip, and knee.

Bursitis