Your journey to better health & wellness
Why should your journey to better health & wellness begin here, with us? Allow us to explain.
We work with you to address your back, neck and shoulder pain, provide stress relief, headache relief and other issues related to your spine, joints, muscles and your nervous system. How? Keep reading.
How We Can Help You
You are unique & we understand that you deserve & need a personalised pain relief treatment plan.
This is why we take the time to listen to you, so that we can understand the issues & concerns that you have & formulate a path you can follow which leads you to better health & mobility.
Your treatment plan works to address your health goals & we understand that could mean you are looking for relief from long term (chronic) pain, or a recent injury. Maybe you are fed up of feeling “sick & tired” & are looking to improve your overall wellness. You can be sure that we will work closely with you to develop a plan that fits your needs & your lifestyle.
What Is Osteopathy?
What Is Osteopathy?
Osteopathy is a system of diagnosis & treatment for a wide range of medical conditions. It works with the structure & function of the body & is based on the principle that the well-being of an individual depends on the skeleton, muscles, ligaments & connective tissues functioning smoothly together.
Osteopaths use touch, physical manipulation, stretching & massage to increase the mobility of joints & to relieve muscle tension. This enhances the blood & nerve supply to & from the tissues, & helps your body’s own healing mechanisms. They may also provide advice on posture & exercise to aid recovery, promote health & prevent symptoms recurring.
What Is Osteopathic Adjustment? – I’m Worried About You Clicking Me!
Contrary to popular belief, Osteopathic adjustment does not always involve the clicking of joints. In fact approximately 90% of the treatment provided by us here at Baks is based on the Classical Osteopathic Body Adjustment.
This form of treatment primarily uses the gentle acts of articulation & muscular stretching to adjust the body’s structure. Where necessary and ONLY by agreement with you, we may choose to use stronger manipulation which may cause a clicking sound.
What Makes The Clicking Sound?
According to evidence direct from real-time magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), it has been found that the mechanism of joint cracking is related to cavity formation in the joint, rather than a gas bubble collapse.
This is consistent with a process called ‘tribonucleation’, which is where opposing surfaces resist separation until a critical point, at which they separate rapidly, creating a sustained gas cavity.
Changes in joint pressure can cause tiny bubbles of gas to slowly form in the joints. When these gas bubbles are formed quickly, they make a popping sound. This type of air-mediated popping can occur in all joints, but is more prevalent in the knuckle joints of the hands, but also the knees.
So, you see, nothing to worry about, nothing gets broken & it’s just fluids and gases moving around. This can naturally happen, when you bend your knees for example.
Even after all that, if you decide you don’t want clicks, you don’t have to have them. Just make sure you tell us at the consultation & we can find another way to release the joint. This slower process of release will likely take longer, so you should budget for a greater amount of treatment sessions to gain the desired results.
What To Expect During An Osteopathic Consultation?
Osteopathy specialises in the diagnosis, management, treatment & prevention of musculoskeletal & other related disorders & is a patient-centred, system of healthcare.
A first appointment generally lasts about 60 minutes which allows us adequate time to:
- Listen & ask questions about your problem, your general health, other medical care you are receiving or medication you are taking. The information you provide will be confidential & protected by law.
- Examine you properly. It is likely we will ask you to remove some of your clothing. Tell us if you are uncomfortable about this. You can ask a friend or relative to accompany you & be present throughout your treatment.
- Ask you to make simple movements & stretches to observe your posture & mobility. Because of the body’s structure, pain or stiffness you are experiencing in one part may be linked to a problem elsewhere, hence the need to be examined thoroughly.
- Examine the health of the joints, tissues & ligaments using their hands & a highly developed sense of touch called palpation.
- We will give you a clear explanation of what we find (a diagnosis) & discuss a treatment plan that is suitable for you.
- We will explain the benefits & any risks of the treatment we are recommending. It is important to understand & agree what the treatment can achieve & the likely number of sessions needed for a noticeable improvement in how you feel.
Highly Qualified
An Osteopath should train at a dedicated Osteopathic University for a minimum of 4 years to qualify. They also have to be registered with the General Osteopathic Council.
For you, this means that they are experts in diagnosing, treating & managing issues relating to your bones, joints, muscles & nerves.
We do not prescribe medication. Instead we use a hands-on approach to treatment & may also advise on lifestyle, workplace ergonomics (posture) & even give you some exercise to help you in your rehabilitation between appointments.
Safe In Our Hands
Osteopaths are highly qualified & have to pass board exams in order to become an Osteopath. They are registered with the General Osteopathic Council & the Institute of Osteopathy.
Bespoke Treatment Plan
The treatment plan you receive will be tailored to your needs & will be as unique as you are.
Is Osteopathy Safe?
Yes – Osteopathy is generally regarded as a safe treatment, although you may experience minor side effects, such as:
- mild to moderate soreness or pain in the treatment area
- mild headache
- mild fatigue
These effects usually develop within a few hours of a session & typically get better on their own within 1 or 2 days.
Increasingly osteopaths are working alongside GPs & other healthcare professionals. Commonly treated conditions include back, neck & shoulder pain, ‘trapped’ nerves, sciatica, muscle spasms, arthritic pain, joint pain & headaches. However, they also treat sport & work-related injuries, irritable bowel & digestive disorders.
A Medical Research Council trial comparing treatment options for lower back pain found that spinal manipulation, added to GP care, is clinically effective & the most cost-efficient option for patients (UK Back Pain Exercise & Manipulation Trial, MRC, 2004).
Aspects of osteopathic care, notably spinal manipulation, are also included in national & international clinical guidelines (Low back pain & sciatica in over 16s: assessment & management, NICE guideline [NG59], November 2016 & the European acute & low back pain guidelines, 2004).
Osteopathy would not be amongst either of these guidelines if it was considered unsafe.
What Can We Treat?
Osteopathic Care
Osteopathic care is a non-invasive & drug-free approach to healing. Osteopaths use manual / muscle stretching / adjustments, spinal manipulation, along with fascial & Cranial techniques. These all aim to help improve joint function, reduce pain & inflammation & improve nerve / whole body function. Osteopathic care can be used to treat a variety of conditions, including:
- Back pain
- Neck pain
- Headaches
- Sciatica
- ‘Trapped’ nerve
- Joint pain
- Sports injuries
Benefits Of Osteopathic Care
Osteopathic care offers a number of benefits, including:
- Pain relief
- Improved range of movement for your joints
- Reduced inflammation / swelling
- Faster healing from injuries
- Improved athletic performance
- Reduced risk of future injuries
Who Can Benefit From Osteopathic Care
Osteopathic care can benefit people of all ages & activity levels. Whether you are an athlete, a weekend warrior, young or not-so-young, or perhaps just looking for a way to relieve chronic pain. Osteopathic care is likely to be a good option for you.
Book your consultation with us now, to discover how we may be able to help you. Make your journey to better health & wellness begin here.