Back Problems

Research shows that 60% of the UK population will suffer from Back Pain at some stage during their lifetimes. A recent Health department report recommends physical therapy such as Osteopathy as early as possible after the onset of back pain episodes. Osteopathic treatment and active rehabilitation can be much more effective than the old fashioned approach of pain killers and bed rest.

Back problems are the commonest problem for an Osteopath to treat (back problems account for over 50% of the cases they see) and is the principal area that Osteopathy has gained it's reputation of success where other treatments have little success. Osteopathy's over 100 year old principals of correcting misalignment, restoring blood and nerve supply, rebalancing and stabilising tissues, easing tensions and so on, lend it to be deadly suited to treating back problems.

Trouble with your back does not simply give pain in the back. It can be, and often is, the cause of more remote symptoms like pain in the buttocks, groin or legs (sciatica). This is often brought about by pressure on specific nerve roots in the spine. Because a back problem can disturb spinal mechanics it can also bring on pain in the face, shoulders and arms.

It is held as a belief by some that a back problem can get too serious for an Osteopath to cope with. The Osteopathic Medicine Degree includes an array of orthodox medical sciences to be aware of situations requiring medical intervention. Outside of this situation however a back problem cannot be 'too painful' or 'too serious' for Osteopathy, research supports Osteopathic treatments` effectiveness for `slipped` disc problems compared with surgeons techniques such as chemoneucleosis (Burton etal; Single blind randomised controled triall of chemoneucleosis & Osteopathic manipulation in treatment of lumbar disc prolapse. EurJourSpine, June2000).

Osteopathic treatment is often the most effective first line of treatment in trying to correct these very debilitating problems. A good Osteopath will expect to have a genuine 'prolapsed disc' returned with his treatment to (non-manual) work in one month. This obviously compares favourably with the rehabilitation period required after a back operation to even get mobile, or a possible six months bed rest for such a condition to again even be mobile; and puts the remarkable healing speed created by Osteopathic treatment onto a clear pedestal (without even comparing the strongly favourable long-term prognosis after Osteopathic treatment). Osteopaths will happily perform call-outs to those too immobilised to travel to the clinic.

Osteopathy focuses on the Musculo-skeletal system (the bones, joints, muscles, ligaments and connective tissue) and the way in which this inter-relates with the body as a whole. By correcting any underlying mechanical disturbances in the Musculo-skeletal system, Osteopaths can greatly relieve the pain and distress involved in some of these problems.

Osteopathy combines scientific knowledge of anatomy and and physiology and clinical methods of investigation. Treatment is designed to correct each individual's mechanical and spinal problems in order to stimulate their own natural healing processes. It is the Osteopath's comprehensive approach to healthcare which makes this method of treatment unique.

All the three Osteopaths at the Carlton Clinic are experts in different ways in safe gentle Osteopathic techniques.

Consultation: appointment by telephone 01293 784200