Articles


Osteopathy in the news

Harper’s Bazaar, January 2008

The osteopath’s table is not an obvious place to find inspiration for a magazine story &endash; but that’s where ‘Cage rage’ in this month’s Body Issue, was born. ‘The reason we suffer from these problems’, my osteo said, prodding my throbbing shoulder, ‘is because modern life is so constricting – whether you’re teetering around on high heels, or squashing into a packed train every day’

Pregnancy, December 2007

Top Tips from Mums:

The day before I had my second caesarean I had cranial osteopathy to realign my hips, which had shifted out of shape during my pregnancy. I felt like it prepared my body and helped me to heal more quickly. Mum to Josh, Seven and Mhairai, two.

Good House Keeping November 2007

Osteopathy… aims to enable the body’s nervous, immune, circulatory and muscular systems to work together more effectively by detecting and helping damaged parts of the body. Muscles, ligaments, nerves and joints are treated using gentle manipulative techniques. Danny Williams, a consultant osteopath at The Portland Hospital in London, says, ‘osteopathy is suitable for almost anyone, particularly those with general aches and pains, including arthritic pain, shoulder, back and neck pain &endash; including frozen shoulder &endash; sports injuries and even migraines.’ Call the British Osteopathic Association on 01582 488 455 or visit its website (osteopathy.org) to find a qualified practitioner

Natural Health, November 2007

On the flip side, the sense of touch can be too sensitive. According to Danny Williams, an osteopath council member for the British Osteopathic Association (osteopathy.org), “when people are stressed they become much more sensitive to touch. Osteopathy can stop the body from over reacting and calm it down. Then the body will find its own direction to health.”

She Magazine, November 2007

Find a good osteopath:

The British Osteopathic Association (BOA) has an excellent online directory at osteopathy.org. Osteopaths will have had four years part-time (or six years part-time) training, and since May 2000, no-one is able to practice as an osteopath in the UK unless they are registered…

Evening Standard 3rd October 2007

More than four out of five adults will suffer from back pain. And of the 83% facing the problem, 61% will not seek professional help, the British Osteopathic Association claimed. Research commissioned by the association found 85% of all cases were triggered by everyday activities, including sitting down, driving and shopping. Osteopath Danny Williams blamed the increased hours that people stay sat at their desk as the main cause.

Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph, 6th October 2007

A recent survey by the British Osteopathic Association revealed that 90% of adults in our region suffer from back ache during their lifetime. Back-pain sufferers can get expert advice from osteopaths at an open afternoon to take place in Thrapston next week

Natural Health, October 2007

Osteopathy was developed in the late 19th century and is an accepted therapy in both the US and UK. Osteopaths believe that correct alignment of the musculoskeletal system allows blood and lymph to flow freely and enhance health. Many people swear by osteopathic treatment and it is the role of any therapist to advise whether they feel they can contribute usefully to your care as well as to advise about costs and time frames.

Daily Echo, Bournemouth8th October 2007

According to a recent survey conducted by the British Osteopathic Association (BOA), a staggering 83 per cent of all British adults suffer from some form of backache in their lifetimes….For further information about BackCare Awareness Week, spinal mobility exercises and a list of local practitioners visit backcare.org.uk and visit the British Osteopathic Association online at www.osteopathy.org.

Northampton Evening Telegraph 5th September 2007

Hector Wells, an osteopath and member of the British Osteopathic Association said: ‘Headaches and migraines tend to start due to tension often in one of three areas of the body &endash; tension in the pelvis, in the diaphragm or in the head and neck. Often the tension is greater on one die of the body and very often I’ve found that a migraine begins as a person starts trying to relax.’

Although massage can help relieve tension an osteopath actually seeks the cause and will align the body to balance the left and right sides, helping it return to its natural state. They work in conjunction with existing healthcare and medication and many patients are able to move away from medication altogether when receiving osteopathic treatment

My Weekly, 18th August 2007

Osteopaths use their hands via manipulation and massage to detect and correct problems with the body’s musculoskeletal system, which means pressure on the back is relieved

Practical Parenting September 2007

Cranial osteopaths detect subtle, rhythmical movements of the cranial (skull) bones, though the term is misleading, as the whole body is treated. “we share the core belief that the body can heal itself,” says Alex Dent, a registered osteopath running a children’s clinic in Cambridgeshire. “We get an overall picture of how well the body functions using cranial and other osteopathic therapies. It’s not appropriate for every problem… osteopaths, like all complementary medical practitioners, work alongside conventional doctors &endash; it’s not an either-or decision

Powys County Times and Express Montgomeryshire, August 2007

Osteopathy is a form of manual therapy used to diagnose and treat structural and mechanical problems of the body, for example with muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments and related nerves. The belief is that when the body’s well balanced it’ll function more efficiently and any damage will be minimised. Osteopaths use spinal manipulation, gentle mobilisation techniques, massage and other techniques to improve alignment, relax the tissues, enhance circulation, and increase mobility and range of movement

Healthy September / October 2007

Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is a painful, progressive rheumatic disease. It mainly affects the spine, but can also disturb joints, tendons and ligaments. Possible treatments, aside from drug management, include gentle osteopathy techniques such as cranial osteopathy… To find a qualified osteopath in your area, visit www.osteopathy.org

Pregnancy, August 2007

As a baby’s head passes along the birth canal, it is squeezed into shapes determined by the contours of the mother’s pelvis. These strong forces of compression can last for several hours, and for some babies, the exertion of labour may be reflected in the early month as colic, feeding problems, restlessness or simply a preference in which side the baby prefers to lie or feed. Cranial osteopathy is a very gentle treatment, where a therapist lays their hands lightly on a baby to influence the gentle movements of the bones of the head and body. It’s very safe and works more quickly in young babies, where strain patterns are less fixed

Ellesmere Port Standard, 28th June 2007

Osteopath is a safe and natural approach to healthcare. Patients may be treated for health problems from the trauma of the birth to the arthritis of the elderly. Britain’s osteopaths see over six million patients every year.

Osteopathy uses many of the diagnostic procedures used in conventional medical assessment and look at the body from a mechanical, functional and postural standpoint.

Middlesbrough Evening Gazette, 4th July 2007

Osteopaths recognise that all aspects of the body need to be balanced and working in harmony for there to be good health and well-being. They use their highly developed sense of touch to locate strain and areas of weakness.

Osteopaths will refer a client onto a doctor or another complementary therapists if they are unable to solve the problem their client is experiencing

Nottingham and Long Eaton Topper, 4th July 2007

Osteopathy recognises that much of the pain and disability we suffer stems from abnormalities in our body’s structure and function. Osteopaths diagnose and treat problems with muscles, ligaments, nerves and joints to help the body’s natural healing ability. Treatment involves gentle, manual techniques &endash; easing pain, reducing swelling and improving mobility

The Western Mail (Cardiff), 9th July 2007

An osteopath can help to assess the cause of your back pain, provide pain relief through gentle techniques and can help your body to adapt to changes that have occurred as a result of childbirth and caring for a new baby

Times & Citizen (Bedford)  8th June 07

If you have a bad back, one of the treatments you might consider is osteopathy. However, osteopaths treat numerous other health problems including headaches, neck pain, heel/foot discomfort, sciatica, shin splints, tennis elbow and repetitive strain injury.  Osteopathy focuses on total body health by treating and improving the function of the musculoskeletal framework. It embraces the theory that if one part of the body is restricted, then the rest of the body must adapt and compensate for this, eventually leading to inflammation, pain, stiffness and other health conditions.

Daily Express 26th June 2007

Osteopathy, a progression that has evolved from its roots towards a more traditional framework, requires practitioners to be qualified to degree level in order to be registered with the General Osteopathic Council.

Express & Star (Stafford) 1st May 2007

A Stafford osteopath claims many people in the area aged between 55 and 70 are missing out o the benefit of osteopathic treatment… Mr Horsnall says that inflammatory pain is often wrongly construed as osteoarthritis and therefore perceived by the sufferer as incurable when in fact it is often possible to cut down pain levels and improve quality of life by osteopathic treatment

Sunday Herald &endash; 13th May 2007

The market for complementary remedies is expanding, and is worth more than £300 milion annually. However, many adults are unaware of the benefits for their babies.

Osteopathy is a form of therapy that uses the manipulation of bones, muscles, ligaments and connective tissue to release tension and relieve pain. Osteopathy is good for spitting up, colic, sucking difficulty, delayed development, birth trauma, weakened immunity, sleep problems, irritability and wind.

Families West May-June 2007

What is paediatric osteopathy?

Registered osteopaths who have undertaken a further two year’s training, to specialise in treating babies and children practice paediatric osteopathy. Paediatric osteopathy treats the body’s function &endash; its immune system, digestive system, nervous system, circulatory system &endash; by gently correcting its musculo-skeletal structure.

What problems can paediatric osteopathy help with?

At the Osteopathic Centre for Children (OCC) the paediatric osteopaths successfully treat a huge variety of common, and not so common, childhood complaints from colic and sleeplessness, through to gastric reflux, recurrent infections like glue ear, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, allergies, and asthma, and trauma following accidents. Paediatric osteopaths are also trained in diagnosis and an often pick up problems that may need referral for medical treatment

Families North West March-April 2007

When the body posture begins to change, stresses and strains begin to assert themselves in quite remote places. Every week people come to see me who have had, say, a painful shoulder for months, and in spite of painkillers, injections and various other treatments, the pain just doesn’t got away or goes away and then returns

Osteopaths are trained to look for postural components to each condition, for example, sometimes a shoulder pain actually needs a pelvic twist to be righted, or perhaps a heel cushion o one side t balance leg length differences. When the correct diagnosis is made and the corrective treatment or exercise given, the shoulder pain completely resolves and goes away permanently.

I believe that, even if you don’t see an osteopath during pregnancy, it is important to at least have a check-up with a registered osteopath within six weeks or so of giving birth. Any ‘mis-alignments’ which have taken place are usually quite clear and perfectly easy to treat, unlike those problems which start after childbirth and which remain untreated.

Healthy April 2007

Osteopathy rests on the principle that damage to one part of the body can impact on other areas. So your neck pain could actually be due to an old ankle injury…

While physiotherapists, the better known therapists for joint pain, deal specifically with the area causing the pain, osteopaths play the role of detective. They examine the entire body structure for clues in order to identify and treat the cause of the problem, which may be hidden well away from the site of the pain or discomfort

The Weekly News April 21 2007

What is osteopathy good for? Children: Colic, sleeplessness and gastric reflux, plus recurrent infections such as glue ear; allergies, epilepsy and asthma also respond to osteopathy.

Adults: All those listed for children and migraine, back/shoulder/neck/knee pain etc. sports injuries, period pain, symphysis pubis disorder, stress and depression.

Contact the British Osteopathic Association on 01582 488 455 or visit www.osteopathy.org to find an osteopath in your are

The Parents’ Guide UK Spring Edition 2007

Osteopathy helps the body adapt to the pregnancy posture and makes the mother much more comfortable during her pregnancy &endash; some women have no pain and come exactly for this. Others come for treatment to enable them to work longer, carry their other children for longer and others unfortunately come when they can hardly walk. The earlier treatment is given the less treatment the patient needs. This is usually because treatment relieves the pain and then the patient knows how to prevent the pain because she is given exercises and postural advice.

The Wiltshire Times 23rd February 2007

An introduction to osteopathy:

Louis Hull presented some interesting facts: absence from work through back pain is costing the NHS £481,000,000 annually; the cost of painkiller drugs on prescription is phenomenal; £370,000,000 is spent annually on over the counter painkillers and 12.3 million workdays are annually lost to back pain, costing £6bn

Osteopathic treatment, which is suitable for all ages, is becoming more available by GP referral and osteopaths also know ways to help with crying babies, however young.

Express & Star 28th February 2007

Mrs Dobson was pulling her hair out looking for solutions to help her child get to sleep when she was reluctantly persuaded to try a head massage. It worked, and she has joined increasing numbers who are choosing osteopathy to solve problems like colic.

The 18th Century practice involves gently massaging a baby’s head to ‘un-mould’ it following birth, ironing out stresses and strains brought on during difficult births.

“From the first treatment he seemed to improve. I was a bit dubious but we were desperate because he would scream all day and night.”

Samuel, now 14 months, had three treatments over an eight-week period. His colic disappeared and his mother has passed on the message to other tired mothers.

Romford, Hornchurch & Upminster Recorder 2nd March 2007

Karen Robinson, president of the BOA says: “People are spending more time and money on looking good than looking after their long term health and this does not bode well for the health of the nation. Osteopaths seek to treat the cause rathe than the symptom of pain. If someone is suffering from headaches it might be caused by neck or back pain. Taking painkillers will just prolong the problem. It doesn’t take long for a quick consultation with an osteopath for them to determine what can be causing the pain and decide on the right course of action.”

Nottingham Evening Post 10th March 2007

Practitioner Wendy Dove commented, ‘Our open day is a great opportunity to find out how this treatment works. People assume it is just for back pain but we can treat a wide range of ailments and our patients range from a very few weeks old to the very, very mature.’

The Times 10th March 2007

Osteopath Garry Trainer has a super-stellar client list… that would make Max Clifford envious: Sir Paul McCartney, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Winslett, Emma Thompson, George Michael, Eric Clapton, Lou Reed, Brad Pitt… Trainer comments, ‘Osteopathy asks a lot of questions about whether it’s the disc, ligament, the nerve or the muscle causing pain. So when I take a history from a patient, I’m mentally trying to get an idea of what structures might be involved, and then I test that hypothesis with my examination…. It’s the mother of all therapies.’

ABC Magazine March &endash; July 2007

Osteopathy has much to offer pregnant women, post-natal mothers, babies and children. It aims to restore the balance of the basic structure of your body and thus relieves your symptoms. Osteopaths use very gentle manual techniques on all parts of the body which is especially suitable to treat babies, children and pregnant women. Osteopaths often treat musculoskeletal problems related to pregnancy such as back pain or pubic symphysis dysfunction.

Osteopathy may also help with heartburn, nausea and vomiting in pregnancy, by relaxing the diaphragm, ribs and spine, and releasing tension in the neck and around the head.

Daily Telegraph 25th January 2007

Osteopathy: This was originally established as a system of medicine in the late 19th century by American Civil War surgeon Dr Andrew Taylor Still. Disenchanted by conventional medicine, he created the method as a hybrid of his anatomical and engineering knowledge.

Osteopaths focus on the musculoskeletal system &endash; bones joints, muscles, ligaments and connection tissues. A practitioner seeks to enhance the body’s self-healing mechanism by manipulation and/or lifestyle changes. Conditions that respond well include backache, sports injuries, bronchitis and ear infections.

Daily Express 2nd January 2007

‘James, who is now 16 months old, was having infantile seizures &endash; the name given to epilepsy in the very young. James was also a withdrawn child and, whereas most babies coo and kick, he remained virtually mute and still.

Osteopaths use massage and manipulation to treat problems with joints, muscles, ligaments and nerves. The therapy can reduce pain and inflammation.

When treating children or babies, osteopaths often work on the soft bones in their skulls, known as the fontanelles to ease problem arising from their birth.

James’ mother took him to her father’s osteopath, Hector Wells in Banbury.

After four appointments with Hector, James was taken back to his paediatrician, who was surprised by the improvement. James sees Hector every six weeks but has had no seizure since his second visit.’

Jewish Chronicle 16th February 2007

Most of us would still head straight to our GP if we don’t feel well (and you should always do this if you have health concerns), but the desire to look for alternatives or to use them alongside conventional medicine seems only set to increase…Osteopathy for example, is being used by ever more people with a sports injury, bad back and other conditions.

ABC Magazine November 2006 &endash; March 2007

“The practice of osteopathy involves the careful and specific application of a highly developed sense of touch in both diagnosis and treatment of mechanical problems affecting any part of the body. This, combined with a detailed understanding of human anatomy, physiology and pathological processes and a thorough working knowledge of classical clinical examination methods, allows the osteopath to treat patients by releasing and promoting the body’s self healing mechanisms”.

Belfast Telegraph 10th November 2006

“Osteopathy is an established recognised system of diagnosis and treatment. The underlying philosophy is that the body has a natural tendency to heal itself but this can be disrupted by abnormalities in the skeleton and soft tissue, or the relationship between. An osteopath investigates a patient’s symptoms using many of the diagnostic procedures from conventional medicine”.

In the Know 14th November 2006

“One of the best complementary options for back pain is osteopathy. It is a tried and scientifically tested treatment for back and other musculoskeletal problems. An osteopath treats the patient using a process of gentle manipulation in order to help the body realign itself”.

“An osteopath adjusts your skeleton to correct imbalances in your body and improve your range of movement. For more information visit www.osteopathy.org “.

Woman, 30 October 2006

“Around a week after taking my twins home, a terrible pattern emerged. Every night between 7 and 10pm they’d scream non-stop. I did some research on the web and went along with the twins to see an osteopath. Cranial osteopathy encourages the release of stresses in the body and head. It requires gentle and sensitive moulding and relaxation of the body &endash; like massage but with no pressure. Finally I have two contented babies and our nights are much calmer!”

Boards September 2006

“Osteopaths identify areas of the skeleton that are not working or aligned exactly as they should be and restore the correct movement / positioning with some sort of pushing / tweaking / twisting / pulling ‘adjustment’. They also do whatever soft tissue massage is required to loosen muscles to allow the skeleton to work as it should.

British Osteopathic Association 01582 488 455 www.osteopathy.org

The Sun 12 October 2006

For some, the solution to chronic back pain could be just a short step away. Orthotics are insoles which correct the way we stand and walk. They are available on prescription or over the counter at pharmacies. Osteopath Philip Godfrey says “Many of the patients I was treating for back problems appeared to have terrible foot biomechanics. It made perfect sense that our feet are our foundations and if these are in the wrong position &endash; or unstable &endash; then the rest of our body struggles to compensate” See www.backinhealth.co.uk for more information

The Surrey-Hants Star 5 October 2006

Osteopaths train for four years and are qualified health care practitioners. They do not just use one technique or specialise in one area of the body. They are qualified to deal with all musculo-skeletal complaints.

Junior Pregnancy & Baby: October 2006

Osteopathy can address imbalances in your body, help improve posture and relieve the stresses on your body of carrying up to 9kg/20lb of extra weight during the pregnancy. Osteopathy treatment can also encourage optimal foetal positioning; increasing your chances of having a straightforward delivery.

What is it? Paediatric osteopathy is based on the principle that all ailments are the result of an imbalance in the body. Using gentle manual techniques, the osteopath aims to enable the nervous system, immune system, circulatory system and muscular system to work more effectively.

What is it good for? Colic, sleeplessness and gastric reflux, plus recurrent infections such as glue ear; allergies and asthma also respond to osteopathy.

Finding a professional: The British Osteopathic Association Tel: 01582 488 455 www.osteopathy.org

Inverness Courier 19th September 2006

Treating a wide range of conditions, osteopathy is not just for those with sore backs, although back problems account for over 50% of the cases which osteopaths see. Aching joints, strains caused by work or bad posture, muscle tension, sports injuries and many arthritic symptoms all benefit from osteopathy and it is so gentle, that even babies and pregnant women can benefit”.

Camberley Courier 13th September 2006

Osteopaths can treat headaches and problems with necks, shoulders, knees, hips, feet and ankles. They see all sorts of people from all walks of life &endash; sports enthusiasts with sport-related injuries, gardeners, walkers and the accident prone.

The Argus: Woman 7th August 2006

I recently helped somebody with cutting their hedge, and since then I’ve had a dreadful pain in my neck, back and shoulders. My doctor’s tablets haven’t cured me and nor have several visits to a physio. Any ideas?

– I bet you’ll be improved by a couple of sessions with a good osteopath. They are excellent at easing this type of thing. If you look in the Brighton Yellow Pages under “osteopaths” there’s a whole page of properly qualified practitioners.

Littlehampton Gazette, 10th August 2006

‘Why should you choose osteopathy when there are so many alternatives to choose from?

‘Osteopathy is a recognised system of diagnosis and treatment of many conditions, such as neck and low back pain, hip and knee pain, headaches, early-morning joint stiffness, swelling and lack of mobility’.

The Scotsman 12th August 2006

‘Not only are women more likely to suffer from back pain than men… but when they do they try to ignore it. This, say the back experts, has to stop. One such specialist is Gavin Routledge, director of private osteopathy clinic Active-X, who believes that when it comes to back problems prevention is better than cure. His goal is not only to get his clients pain-free again but, by helping them learn about their bodies and the way they move, to help them stay that way’.

The Daily Telegraph, 12th August 2006

‘I had damaged myself by combining relatively mild exercise with desk work. How many other week-end warriors have done the same thing?

Plenty, according to Torben Hersborg of the Central London Osteopathy and Sports Injury clinic. Hersborg, who is the osteopath for the British modern Pentathlon team, says he sees them every day, “People come in with back problems, but eventually tell me they have a long term knee or hip problem that has stopped them doing sports.”‘

You Magazine, The Mail on Sunday, 13th August 2006

‘Singer Lesley Garrett is “incensed”. It’s nothing to do with music though; she’s irate about recent negative coverage of osteopathy, a manipulative technique which corrects imbalances in the muscles, bones and ligaments of the body to help pain, especially in the back, “My personal experience over 30 years has been so positive. The benefits are clear. So I wanted to tell everyone how useful it is”‘