Cranial osteopathy is a subtle form of osteopathy, it is taught to a greater or lesser degree in all osteopathic schools. Some osteopaths may choose to use cranial osteopathic techniques alongside structural osteopathy and others may use solely cranial techniques to treat patients. The focus is not entirely on the cranium (head). The sacrum (the wedge shaped bone that joins the spine to the pelvis) is also very important as it is directly attached to the base of the cranium through many soft tissue attachments. If the pelvis is twisted / tilted or out of alignment it will therefore have an effect through the sacrum to the base of the cranium.   Cranial osteopaths are taught to feel the minute…

SPINAL DEVELOPMENT AND BALANCE OF CHILDREN QUENTIN SHAW D.O.   This article is aimed especially at osteopaths that are actively grappling with children’s physical development through their phases of growth and maturation. The particular emphasis of this paper is placed on childhood spinal development and balance, for it is only by trying to understand certain developmental milestones and by observing the children in our care that we can begin to be in a position to make appropriate, informed clinical judgements and decisions.   Research studies across Europe, the UK and America have found a direct correlation between the mechanisms responsible for establishing a child’s physical balance and learning abilities. The studies have been done on three groups of reflexes, which…

When do I consult an osteopath? The obvious answer is when you are in pain! However if you have a past history of your present complaint, or general spinal / pelvic problems  you do not need to be in pain before consulting us. It is easier to treat underlying / chronic conditions when you are not in acute pain. Treatment will take effect quicker the sooner you start a treatment plan. A chronic problem (one that has been present for 3 months or more) left untreated creates compensations throughout the entire body. This can be much more difficult to unwind and correct as bones, muscles, discs and ligaments can start to change shape around the injured part. What can I…

HOT AND COLD THERAPY A treatment you can use at home or while you are travelling. To be used to reduce swelling and improve healing of damaged tissue. The application of cold causes a reduction of inflammation and a contraction of the blood vessels and tissues. The heat allows expansion of the vessels and tissues. The 2 combined creates a pumping mechanism allowing excess fluid and waste products from the swelling to be removed and fresh blood containing healing nutrients to flow through the area. METHOD Have ready 1) A cold pack or a packet of peas from the freezer, (cover with a tea towel to prevent an ice burn on the skin). 2) A hot water bottle or hot…

Or SI joint is the joint in the bony pelvis between the sacrum and the ilium of the pelvis, which are joined together by strong ligaments. In humans, the sacrum supports the spine and is supported in turn by an ilium on each side. The joint is a strong, weight bearing synovial joint with irregular elevations and depressions that produce interlocking of the two bones. The human body has two sacroiliac joints, a left and a right joint, that often match each other but are highly variable from person to person.   Anatomy The sacroiliac joints are two paired "kidney bean" or L-shaped joints having a small amount of movement (2-18 degrees, which is debatable at this time) that are…

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS.   WHEN DO I CONSULT AN OSTEOPATH? The obvious answer is when you are in pain! However if you have a past history of your present complaint, or general spinal / pelvic problems  you do not need to be in pain before consulting us. It is easier to treat underlying / chronic conditions when you are not in acute pain. Treatment will take effect quicker the sooner you start a treatment plan. A chronic problem (one that has been present for 3 months or more) left untreated creates compensations throughout the entire body. This can be much more difficult to unwind and correct as bones, muscles, discs and ligaments can start to change shape around the injured…

Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD / PSD) or Pelvic Girdle Pain. (SPD) is most commonly associated with pregnancy and childbirth. It is a condition that causes excessive movement of the symphysis pubis, either anterior or lateral,as well as associated pain, possibly because of a misalignment of the pelvis. SPD is a dysfunction that is associated with pelvic girdle pain and the names are often used interchangeably. It is thought to affect up to one in four pregnant women to varying degrees, with 7% of sufferers continuing to experience serious symptoms postpartum. Although the condition was recognised by Hippocrates, incidences of SPD appear to have increased in recent years; it in unclear whether this is because the average maternal age is increasing,…