News
Win a course of 5 free Osteopathic Treatments to help melt away your pain!
Posted on: October 30th, 2012
Just “like” us on our Facebook page for a chance to win a course of 5 free Osteopathic Treatments!
What could be an easier way to help alleviate your aches and pains?
Martin Davies Cheshire Osteopath
Headaches? Look for alternatives before you reach for the painkillers!
Posted on: October 30th, 2012
It has been revealed that more than one million people in Britain may be suffering from constant, crippling headaches because they are taking too many painkillers, experts say. The pills people take to relieve headaches and migraines may be making things much worse, according to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) in guidance to the health service for England and Wales.
As many as one in 50 people suffer continual headaches because of “medication overuse”, Nice reports. The problem begins with taking the odd painkiller for tension headaches or migraines, which usually works. But some people take the pills more and more often, until they are on tablets for more than half the days in a month. Nice says that if this goes on for more than three months the medication ends up causing the problem it is intended to cure.
So what alternatives are there to continually popping pills? British Osteopathic Association Member Martin Davies says, “tension-type and neck related headaches are the most common form of headache. If you suffer from tension-type or neck headaches, then regular gentle exercise will almost certainly help &endash; such as walking, cycling or pilates. If someone suffers from headaches it may also be neck related due to stiffness or restrictions of the neck. Osteopaths look to find the cause of tension or stiffness and seek to relieve it by helping the body achieve more mobility and flexibility, using gentle stretching and massage techniques.”
Other lifestyle factors such as poor posture at a computer or tiredness can lead to tension-type or neck related headaches. Also incorrect pillows in bed can lead to restless nights and neck tension. Osteopaths look to relieve this tension and give advice on posture. Specific tailored exercises are usually give to help prevent the tension or stiffness from building up. Any sudden violent headaches should be referred to a GP before consulting your Osteopath.
Specific exercises to help and advise on sitting posture can be found HERE
Martin Davies Osteopath
For further information or to find an osteopath near you please visit www.osteopathy.org
Grandparents in Pain
Posted on: October 18th, 2012
A perhaps unexpected effect of the current recession is the number of retired people who are consulting osteopaths after sustaining injuries whilst caring for their grandchildren, as their own children are forced to spend longer at work.
Martin Davies the senior osteopath at 4 large Cheshire clinics started to notice the increase in predominantly “grandma’s” about 2 years ago but this has now risen exponentially as more and more elderly people suffer injuries whilst playing on the floor with their grandchildren.
“There has been at least a 60% increase in the number of grandparents that have injured their backs and necks whist lifting their grandchildren or playing energetic games in inappropriate positions over the last year”. “When these patients come in they are initially a little sheepish as to how the injuries have been sustained but it is certainly obvious from our perspective that the responsibility for childcare is falling increasingly on the older generation, who often seem ill prepared for such sudden exertion.” Said Mr Davies from his Nantwich surgery.
There have been several instances when ladies in their mid 70’s have sustained injuries whilst playing football with their great grandchildren, one in particular who dived to save a goal whilst playing with her 6 year old grandson.
It is perhaps surprising that the overall level of fitness of this group of people is unusually high, and so it is only when they “forget how old they are” and overdo their exertions that these injuries seem to occur. Nearly all these patients can be helped with professional osteopathic treatment and advice and promptly returned to their duties, but with the advice to “take care” ringing in their ears!
We advise our patients just to “warm up ” before their grandchildren arrive and try and pre plan the days activities to ensure nothing involving too much exertion occurs.
Martin Davies Stockport Osteopath
Generally most cope admirably with their new role, injuries only seem to occur when, like most of us we forget our age and limitations.
Osteopaths help Ryder Cup Winning Golfers
Posted on: October 1st, 2012
Colin Montgomerie, European Ryder cup winning golfer has been helped through his back pain by osteopathy.
At one point in his career he worried Sam Torrance, who was Europe’s Ryder Cup captain, who just before the ryder cup was concerned that Montgomerie might not be able to complete a match.
If Montgomerie had dropped out it would have seriously weakened the european ryder cup side and maybe there would have been a different outcome.
Clive Lathey, his osteopath, said then that Mr Montgomerie’s back was “in pretty good shape for a 38-year-old. That in itself is remarkable for a 38-year-old professional golfer, given his sport. He does have some mild wear and tear which is not serious but will, when aggravated, cause occasional pain.”
“The prognosis is good and I believe there will be absolutely no need for surgery during his professional career.”
Links to more pages!
Corporate Osteopathic Treatment
Standards of training & practice
Clinical and Sports Massage Therapy
UK Osteopaths prepared for the London Olympics
More information – about what can be treated
More information – about what we’ve done
Links page – links to other sites of interest
Read articles about osteopathy
Paying for treatment and private insurance
Computer software to keep you healthy
United Kingdom back pain exercise and manipulation
How to save £103 Billion pounds!
Top Athletes pay tribute to Martin Davies Osteopaths