Osteopathy As You Get Older

Advancing years are often associated with the insidious onset of health problems. These problems may be very varied, and include:

• osteoarthritis ('wear-and-tear')
• rheumatoid arthritis
• problems with the heart, lungs or other internal organs
• circulation, especially in the legs
• effects of operations
• effects of falls and other accidents
• problems with teeth and dentures
• general symptoms of declining health
  

Osteopathic treatment is aimed at releasing strains and stresses that have often accumulated in the body over many years, thus improving the circulation to all parts of the body. The result is often an improvement in many different aspects of health.

This means that suffering pain, stiffness and poor health are NOT an inevitable part of getting older.

Accidents, strains and other trauma
Most people will have suffered trauma at some point in their life, such as from falls, car accidents, or sporting accidents. Often people do not think that they have injured themselves at the time, but to the trained hands of an Osteopath the effects of these accidents are often palpable years later as residual strain on the body tissues. This can make the joints more vulnerable to arthritic changes, and cause undue fatigue, because more energy is used in simple every day tasks, this imparts lasting strains in the body, which can not only aggravate existing problems, but also predispose to other illness.

Osteoarthritis
Arthritis can effect any joint in the body, but the back, hips and knees are some of the most debilitating. Gentle manipulative Osteopathic treatment improves circulation around the joint, improves mobility, slows the rate of deterioration in the joint, and most importantly cuts the pain.

Illnesses - heart and lungs
Heart and lung problems may be aggravated by tension in the chest. The chest area is one of the first to tighten up when we are worried or under stress. Tension causes muscles to tighten and reduces the ability of the chest to expand fully in breathing. This can constrict the heart and lungs and make them more vulnerable to disease. Gentle Osteopathic treatment is used to relieve tension in the diaphragm and muscles of the chest. This encourages and restores normal breathing movements and helps the heart and lungs to work to their best potential.

Effects of surgery
Some surgery leaves behind excessive scar tissue, and this can be the cause of problems within the abdomen or pelvis. It is possible to release these effects with Osteopathic treatment.

Consultation: appointment by telephone 01293 784200