Insoles (orthotic prescription)
Podiatry
Everyday, approximately 30,000 people in the U.K. visit an osteopath and many of them seek help because they are suffering from lower back pain. If you are one of many people who have suffered from an acute episode of lower back pain, you will know just how debilitating it is and the effects it can have on your life. Sometimes the pain can be so intense that the lower back seems to ‘lock up with muscle spasm’, causing ‘the spine and legs to give way’, as the body just drops to the floor. These kind of episodes are agony and also very frightening, making it very difficult to get into a positon that offers any kind of relief. The best thing to do in this situation is to try and lie down on the floor in the supine position (on your back), with a number of pillows under the knees and lower leg, to take pressure off of the lower back. The simple act of getting the back into a neutral position with the least amount of weight on the lumbar spine, is often the first step in recovery and also a way to calm down the muscle spasm and intense pain.
Unfortunately a large amount of people also develop chronic lower back pain and the symptoms are prolonged over an extended period of time . Some people are forced to accept the very depressing fact that back pain is an ever present reality in their lives. Unfortunately there is an epidemic in modern society of people in chronic pain, caught in a cycle of taking strong pain killers to try and medicate their symptoms. The practice of ‘popping pills’ has side effects and long term consequences to health but it also never gets to the route of the problem, instead it just masks the pain.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), who set out standards and guidelines for high quality healthcare in the United Kingdom, recommend manual therapy as part of a package of treatment for lower back pain, along with exercise and psychological support.
Osteopathic treatment can provide a lasting solution to this common problem and can help many people with a range of lower back conditions including:
- Muscle spasms and contracture
- Chronic postural issues leading to stiffness and lack of mobility in the lower back
- Sudden, acute episodes of back pain caused by repetitive strain injuries and accidents
- Lifting injuries
- Slipped discs
- Joint stiffness
- Muscle tension
- Ligament strains
- Arthritic, degenerative joint disease in the lower back
Examination & assessment of the vertebral column
- Postural analysis to look at alignment and curves in the spine
- Identify areas of stiffness and mechanical dysfunction in the vertebra
Treatment
- Gentle stretching and soft tissue release, to restore mobility and decrease tension in muscles around the spine
- Joints are gradually eased to allow a full range of movement, using articulation and gentle manipulation
Pricing
1hr (first session) – £40
40 min follow up – £40
20 min follow up – £25
Related Treatments
Podiatry
