WHAT WE TREAT
Osteopathy can be used to diagnose, treat and prevent a wide range of health problems, from postural pain to changes during pregnancy, joint conditions and pain as a result of sports injuries or arthritis. Listed below are the common conditions that the team at Bansel Osteopathy can treat and prevent. We work with people of all ages, from office professionals and manual workers to pregnant women, children and athletes.
Sciatica
Sciatica causes sharp pain in the legs and lower back, due to compression of the sciatic nerve. It can lead to other symptoms such as weaknesses in your legs and feet, numbness and tingling sensations. With sciatica treatment, you can manage your symptoms and prevent further issues from developing in the future.
Arthritis
Arthritis falls into two categories – degenerative and inflammatory. Degenerative is the most common and tends to be localised to a specific area, such as the knees or spine. Inflammatory arthritis affects the whole body, but both conditions can lead to intense pain and stiffness. Osteopathy is an effective arthritis treatment that eases swelling, improves mobility and minimises pain.
Back pain
Whether you’re suffering with generalised back pain, or chronic pain in the lower or mid-back region, our team help patients with targeted back pain treatment that works to identify the issue and alleviate pain through optimising mobility and soothing the muscles. You may need a specific osteopathic treatment plan or massage to ease tension in the muscles.
Neck Pain Treatment
Neck pain can be anything from a slight stiffness brought on by an awkward night’s sleep, or else it can be a debilitating and chronic pain that stimulates headaches and affects mobility. Although neck pain can be caused by injury, we also see a lot of patients with strains resulting from ‘tech neck’ which is caused by staring at our phones and tablets. Osteopathy can be highly effective in restoring full mobility in the neck and easing tension and swelling. It’s a gentle treatment that settles inflammation and restores blood flow to encourage movement in the neck.What Causes Neck Pain?
Pain in this area can be caused by injury, trauma or medical conditions, such as arthritis, however, it can also be a result of bad posture or lack of movement. All too often now, individuals are spending longer periods of time staring down at a phone screen or seated at a desk and this can result in strains and tension in the muscles.Mechanical Neck Pain
Mechanical neck pain is usually caused by injury, such as whiplash. However, it may be a result of poor posture or repetitive strain and it can affect the discs, tendons, muscles and joints. Since we hold tension in our muscles, mechanical neck pain can also be brought on by headaches, depression or anxiety.Neuropathic Neck Pain
Neuropathic pain stems from the nerves and is usually a sign of something pressing against or compressing a nerve. If you’re feeling this in your neck it could be a herniated disk or damaged nerve root. You may experience shooting or sudden pains, or else numbness, dizziness, a pins and needles sensation and headaches.Can Osteopathy Treat Neck Pain?
Neck pain treatment plans often include osteopathy. We see many patients with whiplash, repetitive strain complaints and tension held in the neck area. If you seek out an osteopath for your neck pain treatment then we will first conduct an assessment. During your assessment, we will attempt to find the root cause of your neck pain and may then move on to a physical examination. Once we have discovered what is causing your pain and where it is being held we can begin treatment if, of course, we still consider osteopathy the correct approach. Usually, osteopathy for neck pain involves soft tissue massage and mobilisation of the neck and spine. As a holistic treatment, we may also provide advice on how to avoid further stains or stiffness. This may include working with you to form new habits for your posture or other small lifestyle adjustments that may prevent you from needing treatment again in the future.
Headaches
Osteopathic headache treatment can be incredibly effective, with a variety of techniques used to ease tension and minimise pain. Spinal manipulation can be used to relieve joins and reduce the restriction of movement, while soft tissue massage can help to restore tight muscles that can help to encourage blood flow and alleviate muscular tension. Osteopaths may use acupuncture to target deeper tissues and reduce pain, as well as prescribe certain exercises to aid patients with self-management to prevent headaches reoccurring. Most headaches are caused by musculoskeletal tension and osteopathy can work to reduce postural issues, ease tight muscles and restore mobility.Tendonitis
Early diagnosis is the key to recovery from tendonitis, along with a combination of effective osteopathic techniques to reduce the chance of future injuries from forming. Osteopaths may recommend a change in posture and lifestyle habits to avoid aggravating the affected muscles, along with massage and mobilisation techniques to reduce inflammation and encourage joint stability. Stretching exercises and soft tissue techniques will work to restore lost mobility and also reduce any painful side effects you’re experiencing as a result of your tendonitis.
Whiplash
Whiplash treatment is designed to keep the neck moving as much and as normally as possible, without compromising the sensitive nerves in the neck and spine. Gentle exercises are prescribed to prevent the neck from seizing up, along with rest in between sessions to avoid overworking the delicate neck muscles. Your Osteopath will use advanced soft tissue massage techniques to reduce tension and pain, as well as joint mobilisation to restore function to the neck and spinal joints. It may be necessary to also treat the mid to lower back which may be reacting to the neck injury, to reduce cumulative strain and ease muscular tension.
RSI
Repetitive Strain Injury is caused by the overuse of certain muscles which can cause inflammation and pain. Luckily, osteopathy can provide relief from the pain and fatigue of RSI, through soft tissue stretches, targeted exercises and joint mobilisation. Osteopaths may provide guidance on posture and ergonomic desk setups to reduce the risk of the problem reoccurring, as well as create a treatment plan to reduce pain and encourage recovery. Your treatment for RSI may also include realignment of the joints and massage for the surrounding muscles, depending on the location of the pain and the severity of your symptoms.
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Muscle Spasms Treatment
Muscle spasms, sometimes known as charley horses, are involuntary contractions of muscles. Usually sudden and uncontrollable, spasms can be anything from twitching to deep pain and cramping. They are particularly common in the calf area but can occur in any muscle group, even in facial muscles.What Causes Muscle Spasms?
There are many potential causes of muscle spasms and the frequency and intensity of muscle spasms can vary from person to person. There are some common causes of muscle spasms. However, certain factors do put individuals at a higher risk. Muscle spasms can be a symptom of pregnancy or a result of ageing since the loss of muscle mass can put extra pressure on tissues.Muscle Overuse Spasms
Muscle spasms are fairly common in active, healthy people. This is because spasms are often caused by overuse of muscles. It can also be caused by not properly warming up or cooling down before and after exercise. Tired muscles may make their complaints known through involuntary movements or by cramping. It is very important to regularly stretch muscles so they are prepped for more vigorous movement but also ready for rest.Mineral Depletion
Muscles need to be kept healthy and hydrated in order to properly function. Dehydration can occur when we’ve failed to replace fluids lost through exercise which can lead to electrolyte imbalance and reduced blood flow resulting in spasms and/or cramps. Nutrient deficiency can also lead to more frequent muscle spasms. Lack of potassium, sodium, calcium and magnesium, in particular, can affect the muscles.Can Osteopathy Treat Muscle Spasms?
For some, muscle spasms and cramps can be an occasional annoyance, for others they can cause intense pain and disrupt sleep. Although it is worth increasing your water intake and stretching your muscles more to try to combat charley horse, osteopathy can also be used to treat muscle spasms. Book a consultation with us and we will assess your symptoms. Sometimes it can be difficult to trace the cause of muscle spasms and cramps but we will be able to advise on whether osteopathy is a treatment worth pursuing. We may conduct a physical examination to confirm this. We treat muscle spasms at our private osteopathy clinic in Haywards Heath, through a combination usually of muscle stretches, massage and joint manipulation. The techniques used will focus on relaxing the muscles to discourage the build-up of tension.Sports Injury Treatment
We see a lot of sports injuries at our private osteopathy clinic in Hayward Heath, including shin splints, sprains, swollen tendons, torn ligaments and other sports-related traumas, both minor and more serious.Can Osteopathy Be Used To Treat Sports Injuries?
Osteopathy is a very common way to treat sports injuries. However, in some cases, you may need to consult a doctor to confirm that there is no serious damage requiring more urgent or invasive medical attention. Whilst visiting an Osteopath may be prompted by an injury or lingering ailment, many sports enthusiasts and professionals enlist the help of an Osteopath on a regular basis. With extensive knowledge of anatomy and physiology, an osteopath can identify the cause, extent and source of an injury and put together a treatment plan that adopts a holistic approach.Preventative Sports Injury Treatment
As well as a sports injury treatment, osteopathy is commonly used as a preventative measure. By identifying where tension is held and muscles are tightened or not fully functional, we can support both athletes and sports enthusiasts in keeping themselves as mobile as possible. Often we experience an injury as a result of an underlying issue, such as reduced joint flexibility or muscle instability. Whilst you may receive a diagnosis for an injury from another medical professional, an osteopath will look into the root cause of the issue, as well as treat the symptoms. This holistic approach is beneficial for sports injuries because understanding the causes of reoccurring injuries, in particular, can help to avoid them in the future. Osteopathy looks at how an active lifestyle can be enabled without causing injury or pain so will be seeking to strengthen and condition the body in a sports injury treatment plan.Which Sports Injuries Can Osteopathy Treat?
Osteopathy can be used to treat several sports injuries including:- Joint pain
- Torn ligaments
- Swollen tendons
- Muscular pain
- Strained ligaments
- Shin splints
- Sprained joins
- Many other types of sport-related injuries