Patterson Allied Health
Osteopathy
Osteopathy is whole body, manual treatment. It is based on strengthening and balancing the musculoskeletal framework (including spine, muscles and joints). The treatment does not just focus on one isolated area. If one area of the body is in pain or restricted, it will impact the rest of the body.
Osteopathic treatment works on restoring balance to all the systems of the body, for overall health and wellbeing. With positive effects on not only the musculoskeletal system, but also the lymphatic, nervous, and circulatory systems.
The technique is non-invasive and does not use drugs. The primary goal is minimising pain and reducing body stress. From there, osteopathy aims to provide a person with greater mobility so the body can begin to heal itself.
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How Osteopathy Works
Osteopathy is whole body, manual treatment. It is based on strengthening and balancing the musculoskeletal framework (including spine, muscles and joints). The treatment does not just focus on one isolated area. If one area of the body is in pain or restricted, it will impact the rest of the body.
Osteopathic treatment works on restoring balance to all the systems of the body, for overall health and wellbeing. With positive effects on not only the musculoskeletal system, but also the lymphatic, nervous, and circulatory systems.
The technique is non-invasive and does not use drugs. The primary goal is minimising pain and reducing body stress. From there, osteopathy aims to provide a person with greater mobility so the body can begin to heal itself.
Who is an Osteopath
Osteopathic therapy is a unique holistic approach to health care. The philosophy is what sets it apart from other disciplines as it is based on all parts of the body functioning together in an integrated manner. When the body is free of restrictions in movement, osteopathic treatment assists the body with pain minimisation, reduced stress and greater mobility providing the body with the opportunity to heal itself.
Osteopaths use a board range of gentle hands-on techniques including soft tissue, stretching, deep tactile pressure, and mobilisation or manipulation of joints. Using these techniques, osteopaths treat a range of conditions including, neck and back pain, sports injuries, arthritic conditions, work-related injuries, pregnancy-related pain, headaches, migraines, and joint pain.
What you can expect from an Osteopathy Session
Your Osteopathy session will begin with the practitioner asking you questions about your current state and also your medical and physical history. They may ask you to remove some outer layers of clothing and request that you do some simple movements so they can observe how your body is moving and where any stiffness and difficulties are to be.
The treatment itself will involve gentle hands-on techniques including mobilisation and manipulation of joints, soft tissue stretching, and deep tactile pressure.
Your osteopath may refer you for blood tests or X-rays to assist with or confirm a diagnosis. They may also refer you to another health professional (GP, or another allied health professional) if your condition requires further assistance.
The first session takes around 60 minutes and your osteopath will discuss your diagnosis with you and suggest a treatment program.
Positive Impacts of Osteopathy can Include:
- Relief from chronic and acute pain
- Better and more restful sleep
- Increased energy and vitality levels
- Better overall health
Back Pain
The most common cause of back pain is a simple joint or ligament injury, which causes the muscles in the surrounding area to go into spasm. This can make moving around, sitting and bending over extremely painful. As it is hard to determine exactly what is going on without a full examination, if you have any of the following symptoms alongside your back pain please take yourself to your GP straight away.
Headaches
Osteopathy can help treat headaches caused by muscle tension, inflammation of blood vessels, and changes in brain chemicals. This treatment uses manual techniques to release tension in the neck and scalp muscles, improve blood flow, and drain the sinuses, which can help alleviate associated symptoms like nausea and sensitivity to light and sound. Osteopathy can be used as a complementary approach along with medication to manage and prevent headaches. It is important to consult a healthcare provider to determine the best course of treatment for specific headache type and severity.
Sports Injury
Whether you are a professional sportsperson, amateur or someone just looking to improve their workout efficiency, our sports injury clinic can help identify areas of increased tensions or reduced mobility to alleviate your problem allowing your body to reach maximum potential in movement, strength, and efficiency.
Pregnancy
Our osteopaths treat pregnant patients, who suffer from pelvic or lower back pain. By applying physiology and anatomy to a body influx of the following: Major weight increase, altered spinal curves and unique hormonal make up. These put a huge stress on the body. The inability to cope with these changes is often the cause of sacroiliac strains and pubic symphystic diastasis.
Shockwave Therapy
Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy, or ESWT, is a non-invasive method of treating certain soft tissue injuries. It has been used in Germany and other parts of the world since the early 1990s. ESWT evolved from Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL), where shock waves are used to break down kidney stones. In ESWT, lower energy levels are used in Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic conditions to trigger an individual’s own repair mechanisms.
How Serious is your Pain?
You can’t see back or neck pain but it can stop you from doing even the simplest of day to day activities. If you have back pain, you are probably worried for several reasons:
Is it serious?
Will it get better?
What can I do to help it get better?
Does this mean I will have pain for life?
Knowing if your back pain is serious, is difficult to determine without having an osteopath check you out. Most often it isn’t serious, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t incredibly painful!
The most common cause of back pain is a simple joint or ligament injury, which causes the muscles in the surrounding area to go into spasm. This can make moving around, sitting and bending over extremely painful. As it is hard to determine exactly what is going on without a full examination, if you have any of the following symptoms alongside your back pain please take yourself to your GP straight away.
- A fever of 38˚C (100.4˚F) or above
- Inability to pass urine or loss of bladder control
- Loss of bowel control
- Numbness around your genitals, buttocks or back passage
- Unexplained weight loss
- Pain began after a high impact injury or trauma, such as a car accident
- You have any previous history of cancer, TB or rheumatological conditions or your general health has deteriorated since your back pain started (especially if you have weight loss, night sweats, nausea or vomiting)
If you do not suffer any of these symptoms, the cause to your back pain is not likely to be serious. However, that does not mean that you should ignore your back pain. The best option is to have it looked at by an osteopath so they can diagnose what is going on. We are able to refer you for more testing such as X-Rays, MRIs, or by using a range of manual therapy techniques from joint manipulation and articulation, to muscle release, and fascial chain stretching.
Definitely get yourself checked if you have any of the following:
- Pain is more than just discomfort (5-10 – 10 being the worst!)
- Symptoms spread into your buttocks, legs or feet
- You are experiencing pins and needles or numbness
- Your leg(s) feels weak or heavy
- Your pain is constant or hard to manage with over the counter painkillers
- Your pain started with a small or moderate trauma such as picking something light off the floor, standing from a chair or driving
Before you see your osteopath (i.e. us!), there is plenty that you can do to help relieve your pain.
- Firstly, get yourself an ice pack or frozen peas, wrap it in some paper towel or tea towel and place onto the part of your back or neck that hurts.
- Leave it there for 5-10minutes and repeat every 20 minutes. Avoid using heat in the first 72 hours of your injury, this will prevent swelling and prolonged pain.
- Next, keep moving! In the past, your GP would advise painkillers and rest. However, this has been proven to lengthen recovery time. Therefore, get up and about and do gentle, slow, steady movements. For Example, walking, cycling slowly, swimming or hugging your knees to your chest. Pelvic floor exercises can also help too.
To come and see us for an appointment, call 9776 1600
What Kind of Headache is it?
Tension headaches
The most common type, feel like a constant ache or pressure around the head, especially at the temples or back of the head and neck. Not as severe as migraines, they don’t usually cause nausea or vomiting, and they rarely halt daily activities.
Over-the-counter painkillers, are usually sufficient to treat them. it is believed tension headaches may be caused by the contraction of neck and scalp muscles (including in response to stress), and possibly changes in brain chemicals. It is therefore logical that if you are suffering from recurrent headaches that some form of manual therapy can be effective in preventing them by loosening off the muscles at the top of the neck leading to the skull allowing for better blood flow and less pain!
Cluster headaches
This affects more men than women. Cluster headaches are recurring headaches that occur in groups or cycles. They appear suddenly and are characterised by severe, debilitating pain on one side of the head, and are often accompanied by a watery eye and nasal congestion or a runny nose on the same side of the face.
During an attack, people often feel restless and unable to get comfortable; they are unlikely to lie down, as someone with a migraine might. The cause of cluster headaches is unknown and there is no cure, but some medication can help cut the frequency and duration of the headache.
Sinus Headaches
When a sinus becomes inflamed, often due to an infection, it can cause pain. It usually comes with a fever and can be diagnosed by symptoms or the presence of pus viewed through a fiber-optic scope. Headaches due to sinus infection can be treated with antibiotics, as well as antihistamines or decongestants. Sometimes osteopathy can help by using manual techniques to help drain the sinuses and reduce the pain associated with the pressure inside.
Migraine Headaches
This headache can run in families and are diagnosed using certain criteria:
- At least five previous episodes of headaches
- Lasting between 4–72 hours
- At least two out of these four: one-sided pain, throbbing pain, moderate-to-severe pain, and pain that interferes with, is worsened by, or prohibits routine activity
- At least one associated feature: nausea and/or vomiting, or, if those are not present, then sensitivity to light and sound
These types of headaches are caused by inflammation of the blood vessels and arteries that wrap around the brain. Your body’s nervous system responds with a high stress response making you feel nausea, slowed intestinal absorption, increased blood pressure and increased sensitivity to sensory stimuli (smell, taste, hearing, vision).
Treatment for migraines, is often based around avoiding the triggers for your headache. However, this isn’t sufficient and medication taken at the start of a migraine attack or as a preventative can help. Osteopathy can help the associated symptoms due to increased muscle and joint tension around the neck and shoulders.
Come and see us today, call for appointment 9776 1600
Sports Injury
Whether you are a professional sportsperson, amateur or someone just looking to improve their workout efficiency, our sports injury clinic can help identify areas of increased tensions or reduced mobility to alleviate your problem allowing your body to reach maximum potential in movement, strength, and efficiency.
Our osteopaths at the Black Swan Osteopathy Clinic specialise in helping you get to the best you can be as well as rehabilitation of injuries old and new. Working closely with personal trainers and pilates instructors we can provide exercise sheets and gym/training advice or refer you to the most suitable professional in order to bring about faster healing and better results.
- Back and neck pain
- Rotator cuff problems
- Tennis and golfers elbow and tendonitis
- Muscles and ligament strains and tears
- Skiing, Football, Rugby and other injuries
- Technique problems due to muscle imbalance
A combination of osteopathic techniques will be used at our sports injury clinic that is tailored to your problem including soft tissue work, neuromuscular balancing, joint manipulation, articulation, and ultrasound therapy to bring about the best results for you.
Come and see us today, call for appointment 9776 1600
Lower Back, pelvic and Pubic-Symphystic Pain
Our osteopaths treat pregnant patients, who suffer from pelvic or lower back pain. By applying physiology and anatomy to a body influx of the following: Major weight increase, altered spinal curves and unique hormonal make up. These put a huge stress on the body. The inability to cope with these changes is often the cause of sacroiliac strains and pubic symphystic diastasis.
Unlike regular back pain, pregnant women have the extra consideration of an enlarged uterus, whose strong uterosacral and round ligaments attach onto the sacrum and pubis, putting extra stress through these structures. Combined with the production of a hormone relaxin in preparation for the birth, the pelvis ironically has to increase its weight-bearing capabilities, whilst accommodating for softer supportive ligaments. This makes the pelvic girdle a more relaxed, vulnerable piece of architecture during pregnancy.
Orthodox medicine classifies mechanical back and pelvic pain during pregnancy, into categories according to the location of symptoms:
- Lower Back Pain due to either Joint or Disc Dysfunction
- Sacroiliac Dysfunction either Unilaterally or Bilaterally
- Pubic Symphystic pain
- pain in all 3 pelvic joints.
Our osteopaths treat pregnant patients, who suffer from pelvic or lower back pain. By applying physiology and anatomy to a body influx of the following: Major weight increase, altered spinal curves and unique hormonal make up. These put a huge stress on the body. The inability to cope with these changes is often the cause of sacroiliac strains and pubic symphystic diastasis.
Unlike regular back pain, pregnant women have the extra consideration of an enlarged uterus, whose strong uterosacral and round ligaments attach onto the sacrum and pubis, putting extra stress through these structures. Combined with the production of a hormone relaxin in preparation for the birth, the pelvis ironically has to increase its weight-bearing capabilities, whilst accommodating for softer supportive ligaments. This makes the pelvic girdle a more relaxed, vulnerable piece of architecture during pregnancy.
Come and see use today! For an appointment call 9776 1600
What is ESWT?
Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy, or ESWT, is a non-invasive method of treating certain soft tissue injuries. It has been used in Germany and other parts of the world since the early 1990s. ESWT evolved from Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL), where shock waves are used to break down kidney stones. In ESWT, lower energy levels are used in Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic conditions to trigger an individual’s own repair mechanisms.
Indications
What is a 'Shock Wave'?
How do Shock Waves Heal an Injury?
Based on current knowledge, the shock waves:
- Over-stimulate pain transmission nerves. This leads to an immediate reduction in pain and sensitivity.
- Trigger the body’s repair mechanism. One of the manifestations of this is the gradual formation of new blood vessels in the targeted area. As a result, the recovery and pain relief is felt progressively by patients over the next 3 to 6 months.
What does the Treatment Involve?
The course of treatment involves 3-5 sessions that are spaced I week apart. Before each session, avoid heavy meals (light meals are fine). Wear clothes that will allow the injured area to be exposed easily. Inform your doctor of your medical conditions or pregnancy.
During each session, you will be positioned comfortably on an examination table. About 2000 shock waves will then be ‘fired’ over a ‘tapping’ sensation accompanying each shock wave.
You can resume your normal daily activities immediately after each treatment. Aggravating activities (e.g. running in the case of heel spurs) should be avoided until a week or more after the second ESWT session.
Are there any Adverse Effects
The shock waves may be painful but, on the whole, it is tolerable. energy levels of the shock waves are usually increased progressively and adjusted to the individual’s pain tolerance levels. Rarely, minor bruising may develop, but this is transient and harmless.
Is this Treatment New?
ESWT has been successfully utilised in the high profile sporting world for many years. Physicians at Olympic Park and the ATP Tennis Tournament use ESWT regularly in the management of player injures.
The key advantages are:
- Affordable
- No Anaesthesia Required
- No Injections
- No Surgery
- No Negative Side Effects.
Osteopaths can treat many other problems by using Shock Wave Therapy
Randomised Clinical Trials (RCT) have been proven and documented for treating the following complaints with a success rate of 70% – 80%
- Epicondylitis Humeri Radials
Painful inflammation of the tendon attachment on the medial elbow - Tendinosis Calcarea
Painful limitation of shoulder movement due to calcification - Epicondylitis Humeri UlnarisPainful inflammation of the tendon attachment on the lateral elbow (golfer’s elbow)
- Bursitis Trochanterica
Painful periostitis of the outer femur - Patela Tip Syndromer
Inflammation of the point of attachment of the patellar ligament - Tibialis Anterior Syndrome
Inflammation of the tibial edge due to excessive strain - Achillodynia
Painful irritation of the Achilles tendon - Fasciitis Plantaris
Painful, mostly chronic inflammation of the plantar fascia - Chronic Enthesopathies
Painful irritation of tendon attachments from overexertion, improper strain, degenerative processes - Acupuncture Points
Pain therapy via treatment of acupuncture points - Painful Trigger Points
Acute and chronic pain in the back, shoulder, neck, etc. due to permanently shortened and thickened muscles
