Osteopathy

Amongst general osteopathic care, our areas of special expertise are: 

musculoskeletal workpaediatrics (newborns to teenagers)pregnancy & maternity care

Osteopathy for Children & Teenagers

Osteopathy can be invaluable in optimising the health of children and teenagers, as well as addressing a wide range of conditions. The more gentle, non-manipulative techniques that osteopaths employ, commonly known as cranial osteopathy, make osteopathy especially suitable for treating young children.

Some of the conditions that occur in babies (see left) may persist, or become apparent in the young child. Common problems in young children that osteopathy can help with include:

‘Glue ear’ and recurrent ear infections which may lead to some hearing problems Sinus problems Some aspects of Delayed development (for instance in achieving milestones with speech and mobilityPostural problems (e.g. curvature of the spine/scoliosis)

Falls

It can be of benefit for your child to have an osteopathic assessment following a fall, especially where there has been a head injury or fall onto the spine/bottom. Children have an amazing ability to ‘bounce back’, however some trauma can be retained in the tissues and joints of the body, that may not be immediately apparent, but which can go on to cause problems later on in life. Your osteopath will be able to ascertain any restrictions that may have been caused, and treatment can alleviate and prevent further problems from occurring.

Early problems with eyesight and hearing are often associated with postural changes, as your child will adjust him/herself to be able to hear or see more clearly. If these changes in posture go unchecked, it is possible that they may go on to develop chronic problems such as poor head and neck positions. This may lead to neck pain and headache or perhaps further postural strain, which may lead to curvature of the spine. Again, osteopaths can detect and alleviate such changes before they become habitual.

Older Children & Teenagers

Keeping an eye on your child’s posture and mobility is therefore very important. As they grow older, any postural problems become more difficult to fix. Once at school, children start to carry heavy bags, and sit at desks that may not necessarily be the right height for them. Ensure that your child uses a backpack, carried over both shoulders, as carrying it over one can be the start of future problems. Also, position it high enough on the back so the weight is distributed widely over their back, shoulders and pelvis and does not cause them to stoop to balance its weight. Encourage them not to carry any unnecessary book loads to and from school, which they are not actually going to work on that day.

The increased use of computer games and lying watching television in various positions can also place undue strain on your child’s body, often going on to cause headaches, neck and upper back pain. Encouraging good postural habits early in life can save the long term injuries which may lead to chronic back problems in adulthood.

Signs to look out for, which indicate an early problem with posture include:

asymmetry in the shoulders (one higher, or more forward than the other)excessive slouchingcurvature of the spinein or out turning of the feet.

Have a look at your child’s shoes – do they wear out quickly, or on one side more than the other? This can also point towards postural imbalance.

Teenagers can also suffer from musculoskeletal problems. Sporting injuries are common in this age group, as are other adolescent conditions, such as Osgood-Schlatter’s, Scheuermann’s disease and other forms of osteochondritis. Osteopathy can be of great benefit in such conditions as well as with recurrent problems like ankle sprains.

An early structural assessment for your child or teenager may be of great assistance in cases such as these in preventing serious long-term problems.

More Information can be found at:

Sutherland Society - website

Osteopathic treatment for Newborns & Babies

Birth is a very physical and perhaps stressful process on a baby’s body. At birth, much of a baby’s skeleton is more like cartilage, especially the plate-like bones that make up the skull. These ‘plates’ are quite soft and malleable, and are designed to overlap and glide over each other, enabling them to sustain the forces of labour and allow the head to pass through the birth canal. However, this pliability may mean that they are susceptible to strain and ‘moulding’, which is often evident after birth in babies that have asymmetrical, flattened or markedly pointed head shapes.

A degree of moulding is normal, and usually resolves within the first few days after birth along with the normal processes of adapting to breathe, crying, and sucking. However, in some cases the moulding can be retained, and will need attention. Left untreated, the bony plates may remain overlapped, pulled apart, or under excessive strain. This in turn can cause tension or pinching in the delicate membranes that cover the brain and nervous system. Overstrain of tissues and compression of joints in the head, neck and upper back may also occur as a result. This may affect the nerves which come from the base of the skull and help in such body functions as feeding, digestion and breathing, and may cause other imbalances in the rest of the body. Such problems may well be accentuated if there has been a difficult presentation such as a very quick or perhaps a prolonged labour, a breach delivery, a situation where baby has a relatively large head and mum has a smaller pelvis where the fit between the two has been especially stressful, or, if the delivery has been assisted with forceps or ventouse suction for example.

Signs to look out for that may indicate a need for an osteopathic check-up include:

Irritability & difficulty settling Excessive crying Disturbed sleep patternsDigestive issues – colic, excessive possiting, wind or reflux Obvious asymmetries in head shape, bruising or swelling over the scalp or face Recurrent infections such as sticky eye, 'snuffly' nose, coughing, wheezing or and recurrent ear infections Asymmetry in movement – a preference to feed from one side, only turning the head one way Concerns about limb joint positions clicking or asymmetry. The osteopath can help to assess whether these are normal within a young baby or require assistance.

In assessing a baby the osteopath will take a comprehensive history of the pregnancy and birth, as well as asking questions about their early health and behaviour. They will carry out routine examinations as well as making a specific osteopathic assessment. This may include such procedures as listening to the baby’s breathing and heart sounds, testing their reflexes and assessing their developmental stage. The osteopath will then examine the baby from top to toe taking note of the whole body framework including the spine, pelvis, chest, limbs and head.

Cranial Osteopaths are trained to detect strain patterns throughout the whole the body including the spine and cranium. They use their highly developed sense of touch, known as palpation, to assess the subtle movements of the baby’s skull and body, and use equally gentle techniques to release restrictions and to stimulate the baby's own inherent healing mechanisms, aiding a return to a more balanced state. Treatment thus allows baby to grow, develop and function in as unrestricted, balanced and happy manner as is possible. Early detection and treatment of restricted mobility can help prevent the development of chronic problems later on in life.

Cranial osteopathic treatment is gentle, safe and effective in the treatment of babies and children. Reaction to treatment is uncommon – most babies are relaxed and sleep well afterwards, but some however may appear unsettled or ‘grizzly’. This is a temporary situation, which usually settles down within 24-48 hours as the baby’s body adjusts to the changes made during treatment.

If you are unsure as to whether or not your baby, child or teenager is suitable for treatment, please do not hesitate to contact us for advice.