What is Osteopathy?

Osteopathy is the practice of using manipulation, massage and gentle touch to balance tensions and remove stiffness throughout the musculoskeletal system so that the body's internal organs, circulation, digestion and lymphatic system can function properly. Osteopathy improves mobility and is particularly good for relieving pain in the joints and soft tissues.

Who is osteopathy for?

A gentle form of treatment, osteopathy can benefit most types of aches, pains and strains in people of every age, from babies to the elderly.

Particularly children with scoliosis, speech disorders/difficulties, pain from trauma. Babies after a difficult labour, with colic or sleep disorders, reflux, and recurrent chest infections. Pregnant and postnatal women with any musculo-skeletal discomfort, anxiety or breathing difficulties.

What can osteopathy help with?

Osteopathy can help with:

• Sports and soft tissue injuries

• Injuries to dancers and performance artists

• Joint stiffness

• Back pain, sciatica & disc problems

• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Golfer's and Tennis Elbows

• Effects of poor posture and mobility problems

• Hip, knee, leg, and foot pain

• Neck and shoulder pain

• Nerve irritation or "trapped nerves"

• Muscle and joint pain

• Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI)

• Tension headaches and Migraines

• Pregnancy aches and pains

• Newborn sleep and feeding patterns

What can I expect during an osteopathic consultation?

During your first consultation, which will usually be one hour, Boniface will go through a full case history to try and find the cause of your discomfort. You will then be examined, first to diagnose your problem, secondly to exclude any conditions that would need further investigations and finally, to make a treatment plan. Having made a diagnosis, Boniface will treat you using the most appropriate technique to suit you and your pain, whilst making sure you understand every step of the treatment.

A variety of techniques are used depending on the individual situation but may include any of the following:

• Deep tissue massage and gentle mobilisation of the arms, legs and/or trunk. Boniface guides your body through movements, supporting (without ever forcing) the tissues. This technique can, for example, release a frozen shoulder or relieve stiffness due to scar adhesion.

• Adjustment. This produces a nerve reflex response that relaxes all attaching muscles, freeing mobility to the joint adjusted.

• Articulation. This method uses rhythmic movement and stretching to relax tense soft tissue.

• Acupuncture may be used for both pain relief and for relaxing an area so that manipulation can be carried out.

• Cupping. The procedure uses glass cups in which a vacuum is created to allow a strong aspirating effect on a precise location. Cupping is a very safe ancient technique to help with the muscle contracture, trigger point release, but it also has a much more holistic effect (such as lung drainage) if applied on specific acupuncture points.

• Cranio-sacral technique - this technique aims to make sure that the Cerebral Spinal Fluid (CSF) is able to travel through the brain and spinal cord freely without blockages, by gentle manipulation of areas where CSF blockage is thought to be present. This is a very gentle hands-on technique that usually involves holding the head, neck and lower end of the spine. As it is such a gentle treatment it is particularly helpful with newborn babies after long and complicated deliveries, or those with colic or sleep disorders. It is also wonderful to use with pregnant women or very sensitive patients. It works extremely well and patients report considerable satisfaction after just one or two treatments.