Osteopathy for Adults : County Osteopaths : Cranial Osteopathic Clinic : Joanna Young, Lynette Topham & Jonathan Mussen : Osteopath Worcester, Malvern, Birmingham, Droitwich, Pershore, Bromsgrove, Evesham, Tewkesbury, Kidderminster, Redditch, Halesowen, Stourbridge

We can assess and treat any joint in the body, literally from your head to your toes. Most causes of joint discomfort from a simple strain to complex types of arthritis can be diagnosed and treated by an Osteopath. You may have assumed that you had to learn to live with your pain and stiffness however, even with arthritis in many cases Osteopaths can help to relieve the pain and improve quality of life for sufferers.

Pain is a warning signal that something is wrong. It is the body's natural defense mechanism that alerts you to a problem. Osteopaths can diagnose the cause of pain and help you correct it; even if the pain has been with you a long time it may still be possible to ease it significantly.

When we experience physical or emotional stresses our body tissues tend to tighten up. The body may have been able to adapt to these effects at the time, but a lasting strain often remains. Any tensions which remain held in the body can restrict its free movement. Gradually your body may find it more and more difficult to cope with these accumulated stresses and symptoms may develop.

How does Osteopathic treatment help all of these things? By improving the flow of blood around your body which speeds up your tissue healing and makes you feel healthier all round. What’s more, most people find treatment a pleasant experience – and come away feeling rejuvenated and relaxed.

In the UK all qualified osteopaths have DO

(Diploma in Osteopathy – the four-year course completed before 1992), or BSc (Ost) (Degree in Osteopathy – the four-year course completed during or after 1992) or similar, after their names. Most osteopaths will have had four year full time or six year mixed attendance mode training. In May 2000 the Osteopaths Act came into effect to maintain standards within the profession. Since that date no-one has been allowed to practice as an osteopath unless they are registered with the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC). You can only register if you have either completed a recognized training course after 2000 or trained before 2000 and undergone testing to

show competence. Osteopathy was the first profession of complementary therapists to achieve statutory regulation.

Cranial Osteopathy is taught alongside all other types of osteopathy at undergraduate level. However, developing the skills required to use Cranial techniques to any degree takes further post-graduate training and practice. There are currently no mandatory courses for this specialization the amount of further training undertaken being at the discretion of the individual osteopath.

Please see the section entitled About Us to see how Joanna, Lynette and Jonathan trained.

Surgery or repeated illness can leave you with scar tissue and tight muscles that make you uncomfortable and vulnerable to further problems. We can help to reverse this

We can help you regain your confidence, flexibility and strength.

County Osteopaths use deep massage, gentle joint release techniques, cranial osteopathy, visceral osteopathy, exercises and acupuncture techniques to ease tension, pain or stiffness in any part of your body.

For instance, we can treat back and neck pain, trapped nerves, sports injuries, headaches and migraine, pain during pregnancy, vertigo, stress, recurrent infections (e.g. throat, sinus, chest), fertility difficulties, insomnia and M.E Osteopathy can also aid recovery from whiplash and other accidents, serious illnesses, surgery, strokes and head injuries.

The effects of head injuries (even mild ones) can be far-reaching and long term. Cranial Osteopathy is particularly good at treating these effects.

The osteopath will ask in detail about various aspects of your or your child's symptoms and general health. A structural examination may be undertaken, requiring you to undress to your underwear for a few minutes whilst the osteopath checks your posture or assesses body movements. It may be necessary to carry out simple tests such as taking blood pressure or testing reflexes. Most patients come to an osteopath without having first consulted their doctor. Osteopaths are trained to ensure that no serious problems are overlooked.

The cranial osteopathic approach is gentle and should not cause undue discomfort, although assessment and treatment may require the handling of painful areas. The cranial approach involves a gentle hold of one of many boney areas where the cranial rhythm can most easily be found. This allows the osteopath to diagnose disturbance in the cranial rhythm and treat it with very gentle pressure. Most people find this treatment relaxing. Some patients experience soreness after treatment, similar to that felt after unaccustomed exercise. This usually lasts no more than 24 - 48 hours. Patients may also feel tired.

The vast majority of patients who see an Osteopath will do so because of back or neck pain.

Osteopathic treatment is widely regarded as the established treatment for mechanical problems of the spine. For more information on specific types of back and neck complaint please see our FAQs section.

Regular head pain can be debilitating and exhausting but there is always a reason for it, and if you know the reason you can work out a solution.