Osteopathy is a system of the diagnoses and treatment of medical condition s that focuses on the musculoskeletal system - otherwise the structure and function of the whole body. Osteopathy is based up on the wellbeing and the function of your bones, muscles and joints. Back pain is one of the main conditions for which people seek help from an osteopath.
Osteopaths commonly use manual techniques like articulation, mobilisation and manipulation with the aim of reducing your pain and restoring functional mobility.
When to see an osteopath for your back pain
If you are suffering with lower back pain that doesn’t seem to be improving, then it may be worth seeing your osteopath. An osteopath can offer back pain treatment for any type lower back pain, inclusive of the important factor of screening for red flags.
In osteopathic practice one of the most common things we see and deal with is sciatica, which is pain that spreads from your back down your legs, often caused from a prolapsed disc.
You do not need a GP referral, you can arrange an appointment yourself.
What’s the difference between an osteopath, physiotherapist and a chiropractor?
Physiotherapists, chiropractors and osteopaths are all health professionals who treat back pain with physical rehabilitation and manual therapy, but their approach to treatment has some differences. This being said there is a lot of cross over these days.
Physiotherapists focus on restoring strength of the muscles and joints with exercise and rehabilitation. They’ll encourage you to take an active part in your rehabilitation, rather than relying on passive treatments.
Osteopaths look at the health of your body as a whole and aim to make sure your spine and all your muscles and joints are functioning as they should be and synchronised. They focus on manual hands on therapies to get your spine and joints pain free and restoring mobility.
Chiropractors are very similar to osteopaths, they also look at your body as a whole, and focus their focus attention on spinal manipulation of the spine.
It’s your choice whichever profession you choose to go and see. If you’re arranging your own private back pain treatment through personal choice, then think about what you’re hoping to get out of treatment and which approach appeals sounds more tailored to you. It may also be worth noting that if you have private health insurance, you can have the option again of who you see.
Here at Dynamic Osteopaths in Solihull and Birmingham our osteopaths have a specialist background in exercise rehabilitation, allowing us to provide you with a mixture of all therapies from the above. We tend to do a mixture of hands on manual therapy alongside functional exercise rehabilitation.
What happens when you see an osteopath for back pain?
Diagnosing The Problem
Your first appointment with an osteopath will usually take around 45 minutes to an hour. Your osteopath will take a detailed case history of your complaint, discussing your back pain and your health in general, as well as any other treatment you’re having. Your osteopath will then carry out a physical examination, to assess joint mobility and function of your musculoskeletal system.
Your osteopath will assess your whole body in relation to your back pain complaint, picking out possible predisposing factors to your back pain.
Informed Consent
Here at Dynamic Osteopaths we will then discuss our finding with you before we go ahead with any treatment. We will go over and discuss what treatment is recommended, and the benefits and risks involved. We will also discuss pain and functional prognosis with treatment. Here you have the opportunity to ask us any questions you may have.
Osteopathy Treatment Techniques
Your osteopath will use a combination of manual therapeutic techniques along side exercise rehabilitation in efforts to reduce your back pain and restore function. Osteopathy techniques aim to increase the movement in your joints and relieve muscle pain and injury.
Some of the main techniques your osteopath may use include the following.
Soft tissues massage of your back
Joint mobilisation
Manipulation of your spine In manipulation
Muscle energy technique
Functional technique
Exercise rehabilitation
Myofascial release
Injury rehabilitation
injection therapy (specialist osteopath)
Your osteopath will also give you advice on improving and correcting your posture, and what types of exercise you can do to help with your back pain.
What to expect after osteopathy treatment
You may feel some post-treatment soreness for a day or so afterwards, this is normally and is related to your joints being moved in positions not normally used to. However, this is only temporary.
Osteopathic treatment is only one part of your treatment for back pain. It is therefore important to follow advice given from your osteopath on guidelines and exercises. This will give you the best chance of a quick recovery, and will assist in prevention of your back pain coming back.
How can osteopathy help me?
The manual treatment used in osteopathy can help to reduce pain and restore functional mobility. These effects can last long enough for you to start getting back to your normal activities again. Keeping active, rather than resting is the best thing for back pain.
Studies that have looked into spinal manipulation have found it to be successful in the treatment of acute and chronic back pain. But it is important that treatment comes alongside exercise rehabilitation therapy.
Side-effects and complications of osteopathy
Manual therapies such as manipulation can be associated with side-effects, but these are rare. Mild side-effects are only temporary, as mentioned above. Serious complications following spinal manipulation are extremely rare. Although these are very unlikely to affect you, your osteopath should talk to you about any potential risks before they carry out any treatment.
Here at Dynamic Osteopaths in Solihull and Birmingham we are fully registered with the General Osteopathic Council register GOsC.
GET IN TOUCH TO FIND OUT MORE OR SCHEDULE A FREE CONSULTATION
Don’t let back pain, joint damage, sports injuries or arthritis get in the way of allowing you to do what you want. Schedule a consultation at Dynamic Osteopaths & Regenerative Medicine today, and let us treat your injury, provide pain relief and get you back to your full and active lifestyle. We have clinics operating out of Solihull (Henley-In-Arden), Birmingham (Harborne / Edgbaston) & Bromsgrove (Barnt Green).
Call us today 01564 330773
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