County Osteopaths : Sports Injury

Whether you are a professional athlete or just exercising for fun you need to be pain-free to take part in your sport.

Osteopathic treatment may release old tension from past injuries freeing you to move more comfortably, this in turn may reduce wear and tear on your joints for the future.

Osteopathic treatment may also help with aches and pains, sports injuries, sciatica, backpain, joint pain, shoulder girdle pain or dysfunction, tennis elbow, plantar fasciitis, patellofemoral pain syndrome, muscle spasm or tension, arthritic pain, rheumatism and neuralgia.

Sports injuries can stop your from being able to pariticpate in your sport at your usual level. Why put up with this when Osteopathic treatment may be able to help you return to exercise?

Ageing - am I too old for my sport? Many people give up sport when taking part becomes too painful or old injuries begin to slow them down. It’s true that sports such as Rugby and Squash have an upper age limit but many other sports can be continued if you take care of your body. Osteopathic treatment may help with aches and pains, arthritic pain, sciatica backpain, etc..so that you can enjoy sport again.

Repetitive Strain - some sports involve heavy use of certain joint and this can lead to repetitive strain injuries such as tennis elbow and plantar fasciitis. Osteopathic treatment may help by working on soft tissue tension, flexibility and joint movement. We may also be able to advise you on your technique if this appears to be part of the problem.

Stiffness - stiffness can be the result of poor stretching and warming down routines (these are often neglected). However, some areas of stiffness may be the result of an old injury or a postural problem. If this is the case your Osteopath may help you find the cause and, using treatment and exercise advice, get you through it.

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. Osteopaths will have had a minimum of four years full time or six years 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 with further skills developed by experience and through post-graduate courses.

Please see the section entitled About Us to see how each of us has trained.

At the initial consultation a case-history is taken, structural examinations and simple tests are carried out as necessary and the first treatment is given.

During the consultation adults and older children will be asked to undress down to their underwear whilst the osteopath checks posture, assesses body movements and gives the treatment.

At the end of the consultation advice and / or exercises are explained and we will discuss with you what to expect for the next few days and when (or whether) you should come back.

At follow-up sessions there is a review of symptoms followed by treatment, advice and review of exercises, where necessary.

For babies and children under 16 years of age the process is almost the same except that a parent (or someone acting in loco parentis) must remain in the treatment room throughout the consultation. Advice and explanations are given to the parent up to the age where the child is old enough to understand their own health.

Be assured that, because most people come to see an Osteopath without first having consulted their doctor, Osteopaths are extensively trained in spotting potentially serious symptoms so that no hidden problem escapes attention.

When we experience physical (or even mental) stresses and strains our body tissues may tighten up and, even after the stresses have passed, a lasting tension may remain. This tension may restrict your body’s free movement perhaps gradually leading to pain and discomfort that seems to have occured for no reason.

Osteopathic treatment may help with pain and tension even if it has been there a long time.What’s more, most people find treatment a pleasant experience, coming away feeling more comfortable and relaxed.