treating Back Pain with osteo

Regardless of age and gender, 80 percent of the population will suffer from back and neck pain at some point in their life. Common causes of back pain include:

• extensive sitting or standing 

• heavy lifting

• insufficient flexibility

• prior injury

• pregnancy 

• constipation, irritable bowel, endometriosis menstrual pain

• muscular weakness

• dysfunction in the thorax, lower limb and pelvis.

There are several more serious causes of low back pain such as disc injury, fracture, tumour and infection. 

Osteopaths, as primary health care practitioners, are trained to differentiate between uncomplicated back pain and back pain requiring referral to specialist care. 

At myOsteo we can help you develop the most effective course of action to manage your back pain including referral for self management guided exercise in the area that best interests and suits your condition. Such as Pilates with a qualified instructor, rehabilitation with an exercise physiologist or personal trainer and nutrition guidance with a dietetic. 

The Osteopaths at myOsteo can:

• Improve joint mobility

• Reduce muscular tension, inflammation and nerve irritation.

• Improve blood supply and drainage to and from the spine and pelvis.

• Reduce the duration of low back pain and help prevent future episodes.

• Offer advice on posture, exercises and stretching.

• Provide advice on improving your ergonomics within your environment.

• Communicate treatment plans with your GP.

• Refer you for radiological assessment when required. 

Tips for Back Care

• Seek Osteopathic advice regularly 

• Keep mobile and exercise daily

• During repetitive tasks or heavy labour, make sure to warm up/stretch, vary your rhythm, take regular breaks and stretch after activity.

• Stay well hydrated

• Eat sufficient protein to help repair tissue, take magnesium during and after activity to aid with healing, repair and muscular fatigue.

• Be careful when lifting

• Have regular Osteopathic care during pregnancy and while breast feeding

• Make sure your children do not carry a heavy bag on one shoulder or spend too much time in front of a computer or TV

• If you suspect a developmental musculoskeletal issue with your young children, such as scoliosis, seek further medical investigation. Osteopath’s can refer for spinal x-ray’s to detect and monitor them.

• Remember a heat pack is a brilliant natural reliever of back pain

Neck Pain osteo treatment

Neck pain is another common complaint, some people may experience musculoskeletal pain in which muscles around the neck feel like they have become shortened and are tight. Other people can experience an acute torticollis after injury or simply after sleeping awkwardly.  This condition is very painful and often restricts range of movement of the head and neck. Other symptoms can include radiating nerve type pain down into the arms, pins and needles in the upper extremity and most commonly acute inflammation around the mid cervical spine and muscular spasms causing acute facet and joint restriction and extended tension around the upper torso.  

How can your Osteopath help?
The Osteopaths at myOsteo are familiar with diagnosing this condition and how to best treat the patient to give them significant relief quickly. We can help by:

• Reducing muscular spasm in the neck and upper torso/back by increasing blood flow and circulation

• Stretching surrounding muscles to restore movement and function of the neck.

• Identify the restricted joints and mobilise them using various gentle and effective techniques to reduce pain, improve range of movement and hopefully prevent future acute episodes.

• Improve head and neck fluid drainage 

• Prescribe stretching exercises and education on best sleeping positions, pillow support and safe work ergonomics. 

osteopathy for Headaches & Migraines

Osteopaths believe that the upper neck problems can play an important contributing role in causing the common headaches & migraines. Osteopaths are trained to identify joint restriction and if a headache is most likely to be of neck origin. Migraines are usually multi-factorial in nature and can be aggravated by stress, diet or psychological factors. 

At myOsteo we are trained to identify the true primary area of concern within the cervical spine; facet irritation, intermittent muscular spasm and head pain. Once the ‘primary ‘ and associated ‘secondary’ somatic dysfunctions  (such as postural weakness or prior injury) are treated it gives you a much better chance of long-term relief and a future whereby acute or regular episodes can be reduced and more easily managed.