Archive for January, 2011

Osteopaths in Edinburgh can help painful shoulders

Wednesday, January 26th, 2011

While Edinburgh osteopaths are best known for looking after stiff or sore necks and backs, we are also trained in giving advice and treatment for shoulder ailments as well as tennis elbows, knees, lower legs and ankles Often shoulder discomfort radiates into the neck or down the arm.

I find the combination of electrotherapy and osteopathy effective and efficient as electrotherapy stimulates the repair and healing qualities of dense collagen fibres, soft tissues, tendons and ligaments.

As a qualified osteopath my treatments now include the use of a French G 5 Flexamatic massage machine. This has a choice of 3 or 4 small attachments which can be applied to shortened, hardened and inflamed knots of fibrous tissue resulting from ongoing and prolonged sitting in front of computers and televisions and from lots of driving.

Traditionally many therapists have treated these tissues by using their elbows or thumbs to press deep into the affected area. Although effective, this approach can cause the patient significant pain. Contrastingly, this vibrotherapy machine, now used on many footballers, not only causes far less pain, but more importantly is much more effective as it can penetrate more deeply into the tissues than elbows can.

I began using the fleximatic deep massage equipment 4 years ago on patients suffering from sore necks, shoulders and backs, for lifestyle reasons mentioned above. I’ve found that this machine is a safer way to make the affected muscles more stretchy, flexible and generally comfortable. I am consistently pleased with the results. And as patients need fewer treatment sessions, there are cost benefits for them.

Helen How
Registered Osteopath
14 Craighall Gardens
Edinburgh
EH6 4RJ
0131 551 1044

Treatment Sessions 1 hour £35
follow up sessions 1 hour £35 or simple conditions £20 for 30 mins

Please note the session depends of the type of muscles requiring treatment, or how inflamed your tendons, muscles or ligaments are. Conditions like tennis elbow respond very well to the fleximatic/osteopathy/ Ultra Sound Combination.

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Osteopaths in Edinburgh work with children and pregnancy

Sunday, January 16th, 2011

Over the years osteopaths have become better known for treating children and for the help they can give women to relieve the stresses of pregnancy. In Edinburgh there are many osteopaths who have a special interest in pregnancy and children.

A traumatic birth can upset the “relaxed happiness” of a baby and make them “fuzzy” and discontented.

As many mothers are returning to work, having a more relaxed and contented baby enables the essential neurological bonding between mother and child.

I work with babies by sitting on a large swiss ball, holding the baby on a pillow. This allows a relaxing bouncing rhythm which enables me to remove some of the traumatic stress patterns compressed into the baby during birth ( either vaginal delivery or Caesarian section).

Ideally the baby leaves my clinic in a deep, relaxed sleep as this makes the treatment more effective. The average number of treatments is between one to three, depending on the stress patterns of the baby.

Helen How
Registered Osteopath
14 Craighall Gardens
Edinburgh EH6 4RJ

0131 551 1044
An initial one hour treatments costs £35.00. A simple follow up session of 30 minutes costs £20.00 and a longer one of an hour is £35.00.

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Posted in Cranial Osteopathy for Babies | No Comments »

Our General Osteopathic Council

Friday, January 14th, 2011

The General Osteopathic Council has made their website more user-friendly. click here .

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Posted in Cranial Osteopathy, Osteopath | No Comments »

Post Operative Disc Pain Management

Monday, January 10th, 2011

Previous articles in this blog explain that bending forward with your arms unsupported when sitting in a chair, results in an increasing lumbar disc pressure over the years.

If you are recovering from a prolapsed disc or back operation, it is important to keep lumbar pressure as low as possible for the first few months or even up to a year depending on the type of prolapse.

If you were doing Pilates before your injury, it’s a good idea not to resume these exercises until at least a year after a prolapse. This is because sitting on the big Pilates balls, forward bending or lifting weights in a forward bending position actually greatly increases stress on the repairing tissues.

Earlier posts in this blog look at the scientific evidence proving that bending over many years can cause disc pressure damage. Although many therapists use a Pilates approach to treatment, there is now evidence that this method should be used with great care on patients displaying any signs or symptoms of a disc lesion.

Dr Stuart McGill, a Canadian professor of Biomechanics, and an increasing number of research doctors have found that Pilates can increase lumbar disc pressure which can result in a big disc prolapse.

Pilates exercises shouldn’t cause pain. If you experience any pain doing them, stop immediately. This may indicate that Pilates is not suitable for you!

Here is an anti gravity recliner recommended by one recovering patient and the link if you are interested in further information. Website click here.

Helen How
Registered Osteopath
14 Craighall Gardens
Edinburgh
EH6 4RJ

0131 551 1055
One hour £35
One hour £35 for follow up or if simple 30 mins for £20

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Posted in Back Pain, Disc Pain Management, Prolonged Sitting | No Comments »