Osteopathy is a “whole body” or holistic system of manual therapy.
An Osteopath uses hands-on diagnosis and treatment of your body’s function in order to relieve pain, and to restore your body to balance, movement, and better health from within. North Melbourne Osteopaths are a group of highly trained and experienced professionals providing treatment for people of all ages. Treatment is non-invasive and includes joint mobilisation and/or manipulation, soft tissue work, trigger point therapy, myofascial release, postural advice and exercise guidance.
A treatment plan is formulated based on clinical diagnostic skills, biomechanics and consideration of “the big picture” (ie not just the symptoms). Osteopaths treat each patient according to their individual needs which is made possible by their expertise in a broad range of techniques.
It is the osteopathic philosophy that the body is capable of healing itself – and maintaining this state of well-being – if barriers, such as structural problems, are removed. Osteopathy is a “whole body” system of manual therapy which uses a range of techniques to treat musculo-skeletal disorders and other functional disorders of the body. This form of treatment was developed in America in the 1870s by Dr Andrew Taylor Still and has progressed in development to be widely recognised as one of the most scientifically validated and effective therapies.
North Melbourne Spinal and Sports Injury Clinic is a long-established osteopathic clinic serving the inner north and west of Melbourne.
What Conditions Do Osteopaths at North Melbourne Spinal and Sports Injury Clinic Treat?
The most common complaints for which patients consult Osteopaths include:
- Lower Back pain
- Neck Pain
- Sciatica
- Headaches
- Pain in peripheral joints such as shoulders, knees and ankles
- Tendinitis
- Muscle strains
- Work-related and repetitive strain injuries
- Sports-related injuries
Lower Back Pain
Lower back pain can come from many sources but typically arises from facet joints, discs and the soft tissues that surround and support your lumbar spine. Lower back pain is a common complaint that can come on quickly from lifting or bending awkwardly, or can be more long term and slow in onset brought about by poor posture or “wear & tear”.
- Staying active as advised by your osteopath. Evidence suggests that staying active with even acute back pain gives you better long term results.
- Osteopathic Manual Therapy to reduce muscle tension of the lumbar erector spinae muscles.
- Using a lumbar support or placing a lumbar roll behind your back while sitting.
- Gentle exercises to strengthen and support the lower back.
Your practitioner may refer you to a Sports Physician for further investigations if your lower back pain does not respond in our suggested time frames.
Your North Melbourne osteopath is expertly trained to determine the most appropriate form of treatment that is tailored specifically for you.
Neck Pain
Neck pain is extremely common and similarly to low back pain in most cases originates in the joints, discs and muscles. The causes are many, but typically include an awkward sleep or sudden movement resulting in a “locked” neck, chronic poor posture (ie at your desk), whiplash of some kind or even a poor pillow. Osteopaths are renowned for not only treating and alleviating the immediate condition but also finding the root cause for a patient’s complaint and implementing strategies for long term resolution.
Headaches & Migraine
Headaches can result due to a variety of reasons including stress, poor posture, accidents, medications, environmental factors such as strong odours & pollution and dietary irregularities. Your osteopath is an trained in assessing whether your headache may be arising from a serious pathology and will immediately refer you to the most appropriate form of care without delay.
One of the most overlooked causes of headache is due to nerve irritation in the upper neck caused by poorly functioning spinal joints and hypertonic (stiff) vertebra muscles. Since the nerves of the upper neck supply areas of the scalp and face, irritation to these nerves can and often lead to headache.
Osteopathy is regularly used for headaches. By carefully restoring proper movement to the spinal joints of the neck, your osteopath is able to significantly reduce the presence of nerve irritation and muscle tension which can help to alleviate the cause of your headaches.
Your North Melbourne osteopath is trained to determine the most appropriate form of treatment that is tailored specifically for you.
Sports Injuries
Whether you are an elite athlete or you run around the park once in a while for general fitness, your osteopath may help prevent and treat many sporting injuries.
Commonly treated injuries include:
- neck and back strains
- shoulder, elbow and wrist injuries
- hip and pelvic injuries
- knee, leg and ankle injuries.
Pregnancy Pain
As many future mums are well aware, pregnancy pain can make a challenging time in their life even more difficult. As your pregnancy progresses, the extra weight creates a shift in your body’s centre of gravity. Your supporting ligaments also soften. These factors can add stress to your body, causing problems like back pain, sciatica, insomnia, shortness of breath, swelling, high blood pressure and fatigue. Our Osteopaths can offer advice about managing these symptoms and demonstrate self-help techniques which you and your partner can use during pregnancy and labour.
Other Conditions that your North Melbourne Osteopath may see include:
- “Pinched” nerves
- “Slipped” disc/ “Sciatica”
- Whiplash pain
- Arthritic Pain
- “Frozen” shoulder
- Plantar Fasciitis
- “Repetitive Strains Injuries” (RSI)
- Patella Tendinitis/ Poor Knee Tracking
- Tennis and Golfer’s Elbow
- Wrist and hand pain
For more detailed information on what we treat CLICK HERE