Archive for the ‘Osteopath’ Category

Arsenal Football Club SEMS Conference 2012

Wednesday, December 28th, 2011

As a practising Osteopath who qualified in 1981 and over the years one had attended many Sports Medicine Conferences  I would never have dreamed that one day I would be able to visit and be given a tour of the Emirates Stadium thanks to the open hospitality of Arsène Wenger and the Emirates for their world class Rehabilitation Centre.

 

 

 

Arsenal Football Club, Emirates Stadium, London
Meeting Programme
0800 Registration, Coffee and Commercial Exhibition
0815 Tour of Emirates Stadium
0930 Welcome and Opening
Mr Arsène Wenger, Arsenal FC Manager
Dr Gary O’Driscoll, Arsenal FC Medical Director
Morning Session Chair Dr Gary O’Driscoll
0940 New treatment methods for the chronic painful Achilles and patellar tendon allowing for a fast return to sports
Professor Hakan Alfredson
1020 Supplements, food and positive doping tests
Professor Ron Maughan
1100 The Talent Myth and its implications
Mr Matthew Syed
1140 Refreshments and Commercial Exhibition
1140 The current use of prolotherapy in acute injuries
Adam Mitchell
1220 The Athlete’s Hip – An Arthroscopist’s View
Richard Villar
1300 Question Session
All speakers
1330 Lunch and Commercial Exhibition
1340 Tour of Emirates Stadium (30 minutes – optional)
Arsenal Football Club SEMS Conference 2012
125 years in elite sports medicine; what challenges lie ahead?

 

Helen How

Registered Osteopath

14 Craighall Gardens

Edinburgh EH6 4RJ

0131 551 1044

Fees £35.00 for one hour with easy parking.

Here are reviews and feedback  about this Clinic different reviews are on Google a nd others in Edinburghonline.    Feedback has become part of our Professional Revalidation Guidelines for Osteopathy.

www.howclinic.com

 

Back Pain

Thursday, November 10th, 2011

As a Registered  Osteopath looking after back pain  for over 25 years with advice, help, and patient feedback and attending many Medical and healthcare courses Where the Doctors, physiotherapists, chiropractors nurse and many others are  all attempting to   find better ways of managing and reducing chronic back pain.  Back pain is complicated as muscles, tendons, ligaments and bones get a bit worn out and inflamed.  One has to trigger the healing and repairing of these inflammations using huge variety of management plans and lots and lots of feedback from you the patient.  That is why there is an enormous number of scientists, researchers, clinicians and statics involved is collecting the knowledge, evidence, skills and communicating it effectively to the patients throughout the NHS,

I think we all forget how far the diagnosis of back pain has progressed with the most up to date MRI scanners being able to image in much great detail depending on the make of the scanner but ask your Radiologist.   Imaging is often the first investigation that your GP or Consultant will arrange if you have severe, chronic and disabling back pain.  As the end of maybe the investigations, sometimes surgery, pain relief there is the ongoing management of your own personal back.

One the facebook section of this website you will see some brilliant clinical and educational websites from various parts of the world including Great Britain

 

 

 

Please do read some of this clinics  reviews  which were started in 2006 by patient.  Over the years with the scientific evidence based publications by Mark Comerford, Professor Stuart McGill, Professor Tim Watson and many other acknowledgements such as the British Sports and Exercise Medicine and Professor Nicola Maffulli to help everyone who has attended this Clinic.  Thank them for all the hours of research and world wide lecturing.

 

I use Face book on the first page of my website for educational purposes so there are the excellent YOU Tube videos on lumbar disc pressure, Professor Stuart McGill shows his research and safe Core Exercises which is why these reviews are so kind on my Clinic.    Here is one of Stuart McGill`s videos.    Another essential video to watch if you want to really understand how maintain a happy long term healthy back. Click Here.   Even patient who have had chronic pain for over 7 years have greatly improved by following Stuart McGill`s brilliant research.   There are many strange myths and misleading information and many exercises are more harmful then beneficial so take care and be sensible

Here is my last review from Google.  I put the reviews here more because I recently bought a cash register from a London based website and it was a terrible experience because they sent the wrong cash register and when it finally arrived I could not operate it because cash registers are very complicated systems.  I was meant to spend another £200 for the company to send up representative to teach me how to use this cash register.  I still cannot use it properly but I can give out your receipts now.  In the end I had to call another company who had an excellent customer care line and we looked at their you tube video instructions.

 

 

 

Wendy ‎ - 21 Nov 2011

Genuinely caring, professional and excellent value. My husband and I visitedEdinburgh on our anniversary and I arrived in pain! After searching for a local physiotherapist / chiropractor /osteopath on my smartphone, I read the wonderful Google reviews and decided to give OsteopathHelenHow at How Clinic a call. Never been to an Osteopath before, but Helen was very different to other practitioners I had seen. She took the time to understand and treat my back pain as well as educate me how to prevent it recurring. She used a massage machine and ultrasound as well as a couple of different treatment methods, and I really felt the difference. As well as an expert in her field, Helen’s also a really lovely lady and her treatment is also excellent value for money compared to others I have seen. Would loved to have continued treatment but unfortunately we don’t live in Scotland! Finding someone with the same caring and professional approach where I live is not going to be easy!!

 

Below I have included some excellent videos to help you understand the complexities of back pain

 

 

 

Here is some of the excellent video links which are useful if you are researching more about your back pain.

 

The Costs :-       Over the year the average number of sessions and now that I am on the revalidation pilot scheme, all Osteopaths have to collect this evidence is between 1 to 4 sessions.   The number of sessions has greatly reduced at my Clinic with the introduction of the new effective levels of Ultra Sound treatment which takes between 5 to 20 minutes to apply

There for if you attend for 4 sessions in the year that comes to a total cost of this Clinic of £140.00

Some of my clients have attended therapists for years without the application of Ultra Sound and the feedback is that the Ultra Sound is helping them to resolve the body`s ability to repair and heal.  However it is important that give time for the body to heal so hence one has to be sensible.

I hope that helps you understand why some of the reviews for this Clinic are good

 

Here on further requests is an article on the Fleximatic Sports Massage  where the G5 Fleximatic is used widely in the USA and it is becoming more known here in the United Kingdom.  Certainly if you read the reviews collected over the years by clients here it is beneficial except of course when there are other serious medical conditions  Here is the link.

 

Sports Massage is a rapidly-evolving sub-specialty within the overall field of professional massage therapy. It combines classic and specific techniques designed to provide therapeutic impact for the unique physical and biomechanical needs of athletes.

Today’s athletes, both Olympic champions and “weekend warriors,” leave nothing to chance in their attempt to produce faster speeds, lower times, maximum effort and peak performance. They are incorporating the latest sports technology in their training programs. More and more of these athletes, at the amateur, college and professional levels, have discovered the benefits of Sports Massage.

G5 Massage Machines are designed to provide the full benefits of Sports Massage. A few of the indications for use include:

• Relieves muscle pains and spasms in muscle contusions, sprains and strains.
• Provides passive exercise to inactive muscles.
• Aids in mobilizing edema fluid in swollen extremities.
• Aids in the prevention of muscle fatigue and stiffness in heavily-exercised muscles.
• Aids in maintaining joint mobility and reduction of periscapular adhesions and joint edema.
• Aids in reducing trigger points.
• Aids in maintaining muscle tone and circulation.

 

 

 

Helen How
Registered Osteopath
14 Craighall Gardens
Edinburgh
EH6 4 RJ
0131 551 1044
£35 all included per hour
Easy parking

Osteopaths on the Pilot Revalidation

Wednesday, October 19th, 2011

As an Edinburgh based  Osteopath participating in the Pilot Revalidation scheme  which is being supervised by our General Osteopathic Council and KPMG. we  have to collect evidence, documentation and permission from a few selected patients and also ask fellow Osteopaths to come in and peer review and give us feedback.

Helen has been a Registered Osteopath, Trained at the European School of Osteopathy and graduated in 1981.   As patients are  feedbacking  requests  to read views about  Osteopaths  here are Helen`s  reviews on Edinburgh on line

The Osteopaths have been given four revalidation Themes

  1. Communication and patient partnership
  2. Knowledge skills and performance
  3. Safety and quality in practice
  4. Professionalism

The General Osteopathic Council has given an overview of development of the revalidation scheme and the next steps in development.
Department of Health has the following expectations as described in the following paragraph.

In November 2010 the Department of Health wrote to the chief executives of all of the non-medical healthcare regulators setting out their current expectations in relation to the development of revalidation. Health ministers in the four countries of the UK have agreed that the healthcare professions regulators should “continue to gather the evidence base to assess the feasibility and proportionality of non-medical revalidation.” This means that we will be continuing with the developmental work that we are doing on revalidation. Click here to read the letter in full.

At the same time, the Department of Health released additional funding to the GOsC to support our revalidation pilot and to ensure that the proposed scheme is both proportionate and supported by robust analysis of the costs and benefits. This is good news for osteopaths as it will allow us to make effective progress in developing the scheme, while the grant of £167,000 means to develop our pilot scheme

 

 

 

Feedback from the pilot will be collated and analysed and will feed into a further consultation on revalidation. Depending on the results of the independent analyses and the consultation results, we plan to implement revalidation in 2014. However, the nature of this large project means that we must be very thorough, to ensure that the scheme meets the needs of osteopaths and patients. This means that timescales are flexible.

Helen How

How Clinic

Registered Osteopath

14 Craighall Gardens

Edinburgh EH6 4RJ

0131 551 1044

Fees £35.00 for one hour including consultation.

Simple follow up £20.00 for 30 mins

Back Pain Review on Fleximatic Approach

Tuesday, July 19th, 2011

“Innovative and effective flexamatic approach”
A review of Helen How by Kirsty – Wednesday 15th of June 2011

I have been suffering from chronic fatigue and back pain for over ten years. Helen was a recommended to me by a London osteopath and I have found her expertise and kindness fundamental to my long recovery. Integral to my progress has been the flexamatic machine because her innovative approach together with traditional cranial treatment, calms my reactive nervous system and has enabled me to avoid further distress. I would like to say a special Thanks to Helen for being so generous taking into consideration my financial and emotional well being during the recent months.

Helen How
Registered Osteopath
14 Craighall Gardens
Edinburgh EH6 4RJ

0131 551 1044

See More Reviews on Helen How

Osteopaths and Knee Pain

Monday, July 4th, 2011

Osteopaths are less well known for their working with the soft tissues which can cause knee pain. The knee is a complicated joint with different structures which are readily prone to injury. Often the patient will see their GP first and be referred for surgery when in fact osteopathic treatment could resolve the problem.

Minor knee injuries can respond well to a combination of physiotherapy, massage and osteopathy. Ultrasound speeds up the recovery and healing of the ligaments, while massage eases the tight muscles of the legs: those of the calves, the iliotibial band, (a superficial thickening of tissue on the outside of the thigh, crucial for stabilizing the knee during walking and running) and the hamstring. The osteopath may work with a physiotherapy and masseur. I am able to combine all three elements of treatment in my hour long treatments. This is both time and cost-effective for patients.

The most effective knee rehabilitation treatment centres are found in football clubs like Chelsea and Arsensal. However knees can respond to simple ultrasound, soft tissue massage, a few exercises and even some good insoles in your shoes.

Helen How
Registered Osteopath
14 Craighall Gardens
Edinburgh EH6 4RJ

0131 552 4412

£35 per hour

Osteopaths in Edinburgh help Tennis Elbow

Friday, February 4th, 2011

Osteopaths are trained to work with muscles. If required, they can use manipulation, myofascial  osteopathy or soft tissue massage. Since I wrote this article many months ago there has been many enquiries about why does tennis elbow return even after the “magical injection of corticosteriod injections and exercises.  I attended the first ever sports and exercise Course Sponsored by the European Professional Golf Tour which was held November 2011 near Harrogate.  This must be one of the best Sports Medicine Courses for Golf and the Elite Golfer that I have ever attended in over 30 years of attending courses .

So here is the website and the current research which will explain when research if followed up on injections of corticosteriods  the normal end of the research is after 6 weeks only.  HOWEVER, IN MANY CASES THE PAIN RETURNS and as corticosteriods weakens the strength of the ligaments because is delays or stops the healing and repair of collagen fibres corticosteriods injections are not given as a general protocol to the professional athletics as it is considered old fashioned.

As the golfers are prone to elbow pain the PGA Medical Team are of course keeping up to date with current research and developing better, stronger and long lasting management plans for elbow pain Click Here Please to read further 

 

Here are the eccentric exercises which you need to strengthen carefully after you have had treatment with your osteopath, physiotherapist or chiropractor.Click Here  

 

 

 

 

Osteopaths often work with tennis elbow. Currently I am treating several patients with this condition. Below is a good image of muscles and tendons associated with tennis elbow.
Pain from this condition can be treated with a corticosteriod injection. However a side effect from this is the slowing down or cessation of healing of the collagen fibres. See diagram.

The injection only removes pain- it does not help the torn tendon to heal. What can help is for the osteopath to work up and down the extensor muscles of the forearm. This elongates the forearm muscles which shorten and by traction make micro tears in the extensor tendon.

I use the deep flexmatic trigger head which doesn’t cause pain but loosens off the shortened hardened forearm muscles to aid healing and good quality collagen fibres. After that I give some sports massage and then apply an effective dose of ultrasound which stimulates a better quality mending of the tear.

I advise patients to do normal gentle pain-free stretches and some massage at home to keep stimulating the healing of those micro tears.

Helen How
Registered Osteopath
!4 Craighall Gardens
Edinburgh EH6 4RJ

0131 551 1044
07889304762
£35.00 for one hour / simple follow up treatments £20 for 30 mins

Our General Osteopathic Council

Friday, January 14th, 2011

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

Chronic Knee Pain

Thursday, November 11th, 2010

The most common course of chronic knee pain I see in this clinic is anterior knee pain which occurs under and around the knee cap.

There are many theories about the causes of such pain, and many exercises to do to prevent this type of pain. Prevention is important because this is one area of the body which is difficult to operate on.

By looking at these images you can see that the knee is a complicated but clever, hard working joint and deserves to be understood and looked after.

Helen How
Registered Osteopath
14 Craighall Gardens
Edinburgh EH6 4RJ

0131 551 1044

Would you believe this? This takes all the force and pressure off your lower back

Monday, October 4th, 2010

It may come as a surprise, but this is the ideal ergonomic chair. It removes all the pressure off your neck, shoulders and lower back, particularly helpful if you regularly need to sit for more then seven hours in front of a computer.

Ergonomics is the study of the relationship between workers and their environment, esp the equipment they use. It is also known as biotechnology.

For more information about healthy sitting chairs look at work place on the Canadian Occupational Health website.

According to Professor Stuart McGill, Professor of Spine Biomechanics in Canada, the slouch position is best. Why do you think those Formula 1 racing drivers can cope without endless low back pain? If you observe their cars you’ll see that the seats are specially designed to take the pressure off the vertebrae.

Note that reclining is the perfect position for the back but isn’t possible in the work place!

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

Over 21 years experience of treating and providing sensible advice
A one hour appointment including assessment and treatment costs £35.00.
Shorter consultations and treatments lasting 30 minutes cost £20.00.

That troublesome Sciatic Nerve can recover – understand some basic forces and gravity of physics

Friday, September 10th, 2010

Look how it travels out through the gluteal muscles as it exits down the leg from our back. This very important nerve which enables us to walk and run as well as undertaking many other activities can easily become damaged.

Remember that your legs and lower back support your upper body, including your lungs, heart and brain. Sometimes the body becomes overloaded by the forces of gravity, and breaks down – muscles go into spasms, tendons and ligaments becomes stretched and damaged, even our vertebrae and discs become overloaded and damage. Sometimes the breakdown is so serious surgery is necessary.

If we look after our lower back by avoiding various movements, such as bending forward, our tissues can repair and recover.

Helen How
Registered Osteopath
14 Craighall Gardens
Edinburgh EH6 4RJ

0131 551 1044

£35 for one hour including consultation, treatment and advice.