What is Osteopathy?

An osteopath can be considered as a specialist in musculoskeletal pain, who treats minor and major soft tissue and joint injuries. An osteopath is capable of treating joint and soft tissue structures in the body: fingers, wrists, elbows, shoulders, knees, feet and obviously the spine.

Watch the video below for our Essential Guide to Osteopathy, filmed at the Buxton clinic.

How does osteopathy work?

An osteopath will look at the entire body holistically. They will look at your problem and relate this to the way in which the body moves and functions as a whole. Treatment then uses the movement of the human body to help to restore normal functions and enable it to heal itself.

In osteopathy, everything is taken into account and considered. We look at soft tissue structures such as muscles, muscle tendons, ligaments, connective tissue, blood and nerve supplies. We also look at bony structures, such as joints, and even take internal organs into consideration. All this information is then combined to evaluate how your body works as a holistic unit.

People come to see us for many different reasons. We often treat spinal pain such as neck, upper and lower back pain and trapped nerves. These issues may result from incidents such as road traffic accidents, lifting at work, or minor mishaps at home. We see a lot of people from the surrounding Derbyshire countryside who, for example, have smallholdings and by necessity end up doing things that they probably shouldn’t, simply because there is no help at hand.

We also use osteopathy to treat a wide range of mobility issues in shoulders, hips, knees and feet. For the lower limbs particularly, we often see people who are involved in contact sports, or other sports like running. Contact sports can often result in minor or major traumatic injuries. Running is a good example of a sport that recruits specific anatomy and often results in repetitive strain issues in the lower limbs.

Repetitive strain issues also arise from our daily occupations; this is especially true of the modern-day workplace where long hours are spent in front of a computer, which can have profound effects on our neck and shoulders.

In addition to all these issues, there is the undeniable fact that as we grow older and wiser, we all suffer from the effects of ageing. This often results in some restriction of movement and a reduction in the ability of the body to sustain stress.

Other changes can also take place during our lives, especially for mums. Pregnancy results in postural and compensatory adaptations. Care of your baby also involves constant lifting and carrying. Osteopathy is suitable for people of all ages, and we even treat babies using gentle techniques such as cranial osteopathy.

Buxton Osteopathy Clinic Derbyshire

Remedying those aches and pains

With careful management and the appropriate osteopathy treatment, living with long-term problems doesn’t have to mean suffering constant pain.

Many people suffer from problems such as arthritis as they grow older, and although with conditions such as this a complete cure is not possible, osteopathy can make a huge difference and greatly enhance quality of life. Osteopathic care also ensures that you understand your condition so you can keep doing what’s best for you.

 

Repetitive strain injuries

It doesn’t matter whether your work entails heavy lifting, long periods of sustained posture such as driving or sitting at a desk, or repeatedly performing the same actions.

The outcome is fatigue and ultimately discomfort in muscles and joints. Not forgetting that housework and looking after children can be just as wearing. Whatever your occupation, we will help alleviate the fatiguing and painful effects on your body.

 

Home visits

Buxton Osteopathy Clinic is open every week from Monday to Friday from 9am to 6:30pm and Saturday 9am to 3:30pm (closed on Sundays).

We can also arrange osteopathy home visits, or visits to your workplace or anywhere else to suit your requirements. This includes treatment appointments for evenings and weekends. Feel free to contact us if you would like to enquire about booking a home visit.