At Natural Balance, the most common presenting complaint for people seeing our osteopaths is back pain. Studies have shown that osteopathy is an effective treatment for persistent or acute low back pain.
Back pain in ninety percent of cases is ‘mechanical.’ Of the other ten percent of causes for back pain, intervertebral disc injuries (or a ‘slipped disc’) are fairly common. There are a variety of other much less common conditions that can cause back pain. As osteopaths we are trained to look out for these less usual conditions and can refer you back to your GP if we think it necessary.
Usually back pain occurs as a result of imbalance in the spine. Muscles can tighten causing misalignments of the vertebrae and pelvis. This can predispose the spine to strain, causing irritation to the joints and ligaments. Osteopathic treatment is aimed at correcting these underlying imbalances in the spine and throughout the body; using a variety of techniques including spinal manipulation, articulation and stretching of the spine and extremities, soft tissue massage and other more subtle techniques including cranial osteopathy. We even sometimes manipulate the viscera (organs.) Advice is given too on other aspects such as occupational posture and exercise.
What to expect.
The first session usually lasts an hour, during which a detailed case history and examination is made, for which you will be asked to remove some layers of clothing. Once we have established a diagnosis for your back pain and a treatment plan formulated, treatment then begins. Our aim is to get you out of pain as quickly as possible, and to help get your back working as well as possible to reduce the chances of the problem returning.
James Adatia qualified in 1998 with an honours degree from the European School of Osteopathy, and is registered with the General Osteopathic Council. This statutory body regulates the training and professional activities of all osteopaths in the UK.