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Role of Osteopathy in Managing Cumulative Load

Cumulative load refers to the total mechanical stress experienced by a joint or tissue over time, particularly during activities such as running or lifting. Understanding cumulative load is essential for preventing injuries, especially in athletes and active individuals. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of monitoring cumulative load to mitigate the risk of overuse injuries, which can arise from both excessive training and improper biomechanics [1-2].Understanding cumulative loadCum...

How can osteopathy support women during perimenopause and menopause?

Osteopathy supports women during perimenopause and menopause by addressing musculoskeletal, circulatory, and hormonal changes through a holistic hands on and lifestyle changes approach. We focus on improving mobility, reducing tension, and enhancing blood supply plus venous and lymphatic drainage. In these ways, osteopathy helps a person's body function better and can alleviate symptoms such as joint pain, stiffness, and muscle tension. Osteopaths also provide guidance on posture, ergonomics, an...

Ageing and Musculoskeletal Health: The Role of Muscle Mass and Strength in Older Adults

The ageing process affects the entire body, including organs, the nervous system, and the musculoskeletal system. As we age, muscle tissue undergoes degenerative changes that primarily involve the loss of muscle mass and strength, a process known as sarcopenia [1]....

Understanding the Physiological Changes in Muscle as We Age

As people age, the following physiological changes are observed in muscle:1. An increase in fat and connective tissue: Body fat distribution changes with age, with a reduction in subcutaneous fat and an increase in central adiposity. The accumulation of body fat in the abdominal region has been shown to be associated with several adverse health outcomes, such as diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and all-cause mortality, independently of BMI [1].2. A decrease in protein ...

What is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of persistent heel pain. It develops when the plantar fascia, a thick band of connective tissue running along the bottom of the foot, becomes irritated or inflamed. This tissue is essential for supporting the arch of the foot and absorbing shock during activities like walking, running, or standing.Pain and stiffness associated with plantar fasciitis is felt near the heel with symptoms typically worsening with prolonged activity or after periods ...

Understanding TMJ and How to Manage Jaw Pain

What is TMJ?TMJ stands for the temporomandibular joint, which connects your jawbone to your skull on each side of your face. These joints allow you to move your jaw for essential functions such as speaking, chewing and yawning. TMJ dysfunction (TMD) refers to issues affecting the joint, surrounding muscles, or associated nerves. Symptoms can range from pain and stiffness in the jaw to clicking sounds, headaches, or even difficulty opening your mouth fully.Why Do I Get Jaw Pain?Jaw pain can arise...

Pain between the Shoulder Blades

Tired of That Annoying Pain Between Your Shoulder Blades? Here’s How to Fix ItThat ache between your shoulder blades can feel like it’s always lurking, ready to ruin your day. Whether it’s a dull, nagging discomfort or a sharp pinch that flares up, this pain is frustratingly common. But why does it happen, and what can you do about it? Let’s break it down so you can find relief—and get back to living your life.What Causes Pain Between the Shoulder Blades?1. Muscle OveruseRepetitive mot...

Back Pain Treatment and Self Help Tips

Back pain is a common issue that can make daily life difficult and frustrating. With so many treatment options out there, it can be hard to know which one is right for you. So why choose osteopathy? Osteopathy takes a whole-body approach, looking at how different parts of your body are connected and how they work together. By understanding this, we can help pinpoint the real cause of your discomfort, making it an excellent choice for treating back pain.Each person’s experience of back pain is ...

Why do I have Back Pain?

1. Muscle or Ligament StrainMuscle or ligament strain is one of the most common causes of back pain. It can occur from overexertion, such as heavy lifting, or from sudden, awkward movements that overstretch or tear the muscles. Poor posture over time also contributes to chronic back and spine pain, particularly when it leads to muscle imbalances. This type of back pain usually resolves quickly with  skilled osteopathic hands-on treatment and the right exercises to improve posture and streng...

My child is a picky eater, what can I do to help?

Osteopaths can play a significant role in helping children who are picky eaters by addressing underlying issues that affect their ability to enjoy a wider variety of foods. One common reason children may be selective with their food is that they find certain textures unpleasant or feel nauseous after eating. This can be a sign of an issue with the parasympathetic nerve supply to the gut, primarily managed by the vagus nerve. This can be irritated from a difficult birth or a head injury.  Os...

Balance problems for children - what to do?

Osteopathic treatment can be particularly beneficial for children experiencing balance problems, as it addresses underlying structural and functional imbalances that may contribute to these issues. It is always important to see your GP if you are concerned, however many balance issues can be improved with the right approaches to help your child.One key area of focus is the semicircular canals within the temporal bones, which play a vital role in maintaining equilibrium. These canals are part of ...

Acupuncture for Headache and Migraine Pain

If you are one of the many people who suffer from headaches or migraines, you likely have found that over-the-counter medication and rest doesn’t always do the trick, nor does it get to the root cause of the issue. This is why many people are turning to acupuncture to help relieve their migraines and headaches. What is Acupuncture?Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medicine-based approach to treating a variety of health conditions by triggering specific points on the skin with very fine ne...

The Role of Cranial Osteopathy in Alleviating Different Types of Headaches

Headaches are a widespread issue, affecting people of all ages and backgrounds. They vary widely in their causes, symptoms, and treatment approaches. Cranial osteopathy focuses on the manipulation of the skull and surrounding structures. Here are some examples of common forms of headaches and the mechanism of how cranial Osteopathy might help....

Understanding Headaches and How Osteopathy Can Help

Headaches are one of the most common health issues affecting people around the world.Types of HeadachesHeadaches can be categorized into two main types: primary and secondary headaches.Primary Headaches: These are the most common type of headaches, where the pain originates in the head itself. There are two main kinds of primary headaches:Tension-Type Headaches: These account for about 40% of all headache cases. The pain in this type of headache often comes from tightness in the muscles around t...

Top Tips for Managing Headaches

Headaches can range from a mild nuisance to a debilitating condition that can seriously impact your quality of life. Whilst medication can provide some temporary relief, prolonged use can be potentially harmful to your health. Instead, having a deeper understanding of what might be causing your headaches can lead to more effective and sustainable solutions. Below are some simple yet effective ways to help manage your headaches, or avoid them altogether....

HOW DO OSTEOPATHS HELP ME OUT OF PAIN AND BACK TO HEALTH?

What does an osteopath even do?We get it. Lots of people don’t really know exactly what we do. First of all, it doesn’t help that our name is a massive misnomer, a relic of the past where bony “alignment” was emphasised far more than what we know to be useful today.In medical terms, Osteo = bones. Path = disease. Therefore, osteopaths treat diseases of bones right? Well, wrong actually!Secondly, osteopaths seem to be associated with mainstream medical clinics, but also alternative therap...

A Simple Walking Meditation

In our current adaptation to isolation and social distancing I have found a good routine with daily walks. When walking I often practise a simple and practical meditation that I learned whilst I was staying at an ashram in India studying yoga therapy. I find this walking meditation very helpful for quieting my internal dialogue and getting into the physical experience of my body walking.Walking meditation is a wonderful tool for practicing mind body connectedness and embodied awareness. It’s a...

Golfing Injury or want to improve your golfing performance

Athletic performance in golf seems to get little consideration outside of the professional game. You wouldn’t play rugby or cricket without training to improve athletic performance, so why do people do so with golf? All too often the only warm up a golfer will do before they hit the ball, is carrying their clubs to the first tee!As well as having the correct equipment and the correct technique, the golfer needs their body to have the correct mobility and stability, to create the movement neces...

DOES CELL PHONE USE AFFECT FERTILITY?

There is some conflicting information surrounding the effects of radio frequency electromagnetic waves (EMW) and their effects on the body and fertility. There is a large body of evidence however that supports the hypothesis that radiation from mobile phones has negative effects upon the body and fertility especially that of males. It has been difficult to conduct repeatable, strong experiments. This means that previous studies have produced antagonistic data. With increasing interest into this ...

EFFECTIVE OSTEOPATHIC TREATMENT OF SUDDEN ONSET ECZEMA IN A CHILD

My son developed eczema under his arm and on the left side of his torso about three weeks ago. We had not changed his diet, nor the cleaning agents for our clothes or household. Life was pretty relaxed as we were on school holidays. I suspect the causative factor was some molluscum contagiosum which had recently popped up in the same dermatomal/skin area.It was typical atopic eczema, very itchy, with rough dry skin. No natural oils or other options from commercial eczema type creams to herbal ti...

Psychosynthesis Counselling

​Suryagita Cox, BA., ATTSNZ, Dip. Psychosynthesis CounsellingSuryagita is a qualified counsellor. Trained at the Institute of Psychosynthesis in Auckland, she now works works with issues such as:dissatisfaction with workstress, anxietydepressionbereavement, loss of meaningcrisis in life purposerelationship/communication issuesinability to change old patterns of behaviourdifficulty in making decisionsShe supports her clients to find their way through issues and to open to new ways to live ...

PAIN "IT COMES FROM THE BRAIN AND CAN BE TRAINED"

No one really wants to be in pain. This is understandable because it is unpleasant. But it does have its purpose and now that we are understanding so much more of what it involves, this allows us to reconsider our beliefs around it. Pain is complex. However having a basic understanding of the physiological foundation for pain is a great start. Understanding pain physiology will change the way we think about pain, reduce its threat value by empowering us and improve overall management of pai...

Real Deal Hurt Cream

If you or your children have been inflicted with the nasty coughing bug that has been going around in Wellington, then I suggest you try some of this special arnica cream. We discovered this recently on our own children when they were coughing at night, we rubbed this cream on their upper back and the cough would stop for the rest of the night. It meant they could get proper sleep and get better and we could sleep too. I then suggested this to patients and parents of coughing children and they h...

Thoracic Cage Stretches

Great for getting your back and ribcage freed up for more comfort and better breathing.What is amazing about the human body, is it's ability to adapt to a given situation or task.  Problems can occur though, when we spend to long in a fixed position, such as being sat at a work station.  The body does it's best to adapt to the sustained posture, but even then can end up fatigued.  So, we end up with restricted spine and ribs, with sore muscles and joints. Then when we want to be a...

Osteopathic treatment before and during Pregnancy

Supporting the changeOne of the most unique times in a woman’s life, pregnancy is quite a special state. Fortunately, many women have an easy, straightforward experience, but for those who don’t, osteopathic treatment can be very effective at easing discomfort and making this unique time enjoyable - the way it should be.In an ideal world, every woman who is planning to become pregnant would have an osteopathic assessment and treatment in preparation for the journey ahead. This is particularl...