Back pain
Back and joint pain will probably affect us all at some point in our lives. This does not mean that you have to continue suffering.
Back pain is not normally caused by anything serious, though it is natural to worry about symptoms and the cause. An osteopath will always complete a routine examination that checks for more serious diagnoses and will advise and discuss with you any further action that might be required.
JOint pain
There are a number or reasons for joint pain, some of which can be helped by visiting an osteopath.
Neck pain
Shoulder pain
Hip pain
Knee pain
Foot and ankle pain
Pain can come from a tight, strained or overused muscle in the joints or from the joint itself. Pain can sometimes be the result of an injury, it can be referred from the spine or related to the way you move, stand and/or use your joints.
Pain from osteoarthritis or wear and tear in the joints (especially hips and knees) is also common. Osteopaths can’t cure the arthritis and it depends on the severity of the wear and tear but treatment and advice from an osteopath can often help ease the symptoms. Osteopaths can look at the patient as a whole, assess the way the hip moves, strengthen and stretch the muscles, gently massage the joints, muscles and stretch the joint to reduce tension and improve the mobility and work on the secondary problems like backache.
X-rays, scans and other tests are sometimes required to make a diagnosis and your osteopath may refer to your GP or a specialist for any additional investigations or treatment (institute of osteopathy)