What is Osteopathy?
Osteopathy is the first complementary therapy to be legally recognised by the medical profession and recognises the importance of the link between the structure of the human body and the way it functions. Osteopaths focus on the body’s skeleton and joint function along with the underlying muscles, soft tissue and internal organs.
Osteopaths consider each person as an individual. Utilising a highly developed sense of touch, they identify problem areas of the body. Using gentle stretching and mobilising techniques as well as manipulating joints, an osteopath works with the body to create the perfect conditions to facilitate the healing process.
Treatment usually consists of a combination of soft-tissue releasing techniques, and some specific adjustments affecting joints and soft-tissues (muscles, ligaments and tendons). Advice can also be given on self-help treatment such as specific exercise, stretching and posture advice.
Over six million people a year consult an osteopath for a wide variety of conditions and are benefiting from osteopathic treatment.
Medical Acupuncture
Acupuncture stimulates the nerves in the skin and muscle, and can produce a variety of effects. We know that it increases the body’s release of natural painkillers such as endorphin and serotonin in the pain pathways of both the Brain and Spinal Cord. This modifies the way pain signals are received at several different levels.
But acupuncture does much more than reduce pain; it has a beneficial effect on health. Patients will often notice an improved sense of relaxation and wellbeing after treatment. Modern research shows that acupuncture can affect most of the body’s systems, the nervous system, muscle tone, hormone outputs, circulation,
antibody production and allergic responses, as well as the respiratory, digestive, urinary, and reproductive systems. Here are some of the conditions acupuncture is useful in the treatment of.
- Pain relief for a wide range of debilitating painful conditions
- It is commonly used to treat musculoskeletal pain, for example – neck, shoulder, back and leg pain
- It has been used successfully to treat headaches, migraines, trapped nerves, chronic muscle strains, sports injuries and various kinds of arthritic and rheumatic pain.
Medical Acupuncture works very well in addition to Osteopathy and may help speed up the healing process as well as alleviate painful symptoms. If I recommend that Acupuncture will be useful in your case we can discuss whether or not you would like to include it in your treatment plan at no extra cost.
