Osteopathy for adults, babies and children.

Osteopaths treat people of all ages who suffer with a range of complaints ranging from arthritic pain in the elderly, through postural strain suffered by pregnant women to colic or sleeplessness in very small babies.

Osteopaths treat the whole person not just the condition. Using the principles of osteopathy, a very wide variety of conditions can be helped, including:

• Back and Neck pain
• Shoulder Pain/Frozen Shoulder
• Joint Pain/Arthritic Pain
• Headache, Migraine and Sinusitis
• Digestive Disorders/Irritable Bowel
• Asthma and Chest Complaints
• General Poor Health and Fatigue
• Childhood Problems

What does a consultation involve?

An osteopath takes a detailed medical history from the patient followed by careful examination and diagnosis of what is causing the symptoms. An explanation and prognosis is given followed by treatment.

Normally we ask you to undress to your underwear on the first consultation so that a full spinal and postural assessment may be undertaken. Some patients do feel embarrassed initially and for them we suggest a pair of shorts or an item of clothing they feel comfortable in.

For babies and children, details of pregnancy and birth are taken. A baby is then usually undressed to nappy and examined. Please bring spare nappies and milk with you, in case required!

Do I need to be referred by my GP?

No, although some private medical schemes require a referral from the GP. I am recognised by all major health insurers.

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Babies and Children

It is a common belief that babies and children should have no structural stresses or strains in their bodies because they are so young. The reality is very different. Birth is one of the most stressful events of our lives. The baby is subjected to enormous forces, as the uterus pushes to expel the baby against the natural resistance of the birth canal. The baby has to turn and twist as it squeezes through the bony pelvis, on its short by highly stimulating and potentially stressful journey. A baby's head has the remarkable ability to absorb these stresses in a normal delivery. In order to reduce the size of the head, the soft bones overlap, bend and warp as the baby descends. The baby's chin is normally well tucked down towards its chest to reduce the presenting diameter of the head.

Many babies are born with odd shaped heads as a result. In the first few days, the head can usually be seen to gradually lose the extreme moulded shape, as the baby suckles, cries and yawns. However, this unmoulding process is often incomplete, especially if the birth has been difficult. As a result, the baby may have to live with some very uncomfortable stresses within its head and body.

What effect does retained moulding have?

Some babies cope extremely well with even quite severe retained moulding and compression and are contented and happy. For others its is a different story and they can display a variety of problems.

Crying, irritable baby : Crying, fractious, irritable baby needs to be rocked to sleep. Prefers being carried.
Reason : The baby may be uncomfortable with a constant feeling of pressure in the head. This is made worse by the extra pressure on the head when lying down.

Feeding difficulties: The baby takes a long time to feed and one feed merges into the next. He/she may be a windy feeder.
Reason : Feeding is difficult and tiring due to mechanical stresses through the head, face and throat. The nerves to the tongue may be irritated as they exit from the skull, which makes sucking difficult.

Sickness, colic and wind : Regurgitation of milk between feeds, bouts of prolonged crying due to colic and wind. Often worse in the evening.
Reason : The nerve to the stomach is irritated as it exits from the base of the skull, which impairs digestion. The diaphragm may be stressed or distorted, which further compromises both digestion and ability of the stomach to retain its contents.

Sleep disturbances: The baby sleeps for only short periods and may sleep little in the day (or night!). Wakes to the slightest noise.
Reason : The tension on the bony and membranous casing of the skull keeps the baby's nervous system in a persistently alert state.

As the child grows

As the child grows, the effects of retained moulding can lead to other problems. The following are the most common, but it is by no means an exhaustive list.

Infections : Retained moulding and birth stresses take their toll on the body's reserves and also deplete the immune system. This leaves children more vulnerable to all types of infection.

Ear infection : Recurrent ear infections, gradually becoming more frequent. Loss of hearing, leads to glue ear.
Reason : Retained birth compression within and around the bones of the ear impedes fluid drainage from the ear, causes poor development of the air sinuses in the ear, and partial or complete blocking of the Eustachian tube. Infections never fully clear, leaving a vulnerability to the next infection and a depleted immune system.

Sinus and dental problems : Persistent mouth breathers. Constantly blocked or runny nose. Later this increases the chance of dental overcrowding.
Reason : Impaired growth and drainage of the sinuses and bones of the face due to retained moulding compression

Behavioural problem and learning difficulties : Poor concentration, constant fidgeting, difficulty sitting still, hyperactivity. Butterfly type of child who flits from one thing to the next.
Reason : Continuation of the restlessness as a young baby. Retained moulding compression makes them uncomfortable in one position for too long - which becomes habit forming. Severe compression can modify normal patterns of learning in the brain.

Headaches, aches and pains : Headaches begin age 7-8. Growing pains. Vulnerability to sprains, or other aches and pains.
Reason : Retained moulding may focus areas of pressure in the skull, as the skull fully forms at around the age of 7-8 years. Postural tensions make other areas of the body more vulnerable to strain and fatigue.

Asthma : Vulnerability to chest infections. Aggravation of all degrees of asthma from mild to severe.
Reason : Retained moulding compression can aggravate a tendency to asthma. General lowered immunity leads to more chest infections. After infections, the chest remains tense and the ribs do not return to full function, aggravating as asthmatic tendency. Osteopathic treatment to release birth stresses and help to improve chest function is often beneficial in reducing the frequency and severity of asthma attacks.

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Osteopathic Treatment

Osteopathic treatment using the cranial approach is very gentle, safe and effective in the treatment of babies and children. Specific gentle pressure is applied where necessary to enable the inherent healing ability of the body to affect the release of stresses.

Could there be any adverse reactions?

Reactions to treatment are variable; often the baby or child is very relaxed afterwards and sleeps well. Others have a burst of energy after treatment, usually followed by a good nights sleep. Occasionally children are unsettled after treatment. This is a temporary situation and is usually caused when the release of the retained moulding has been incomplete. It is not always possible for all the retained moulding compression to release in one session, especially if it has been severe.

How many treatments will be needed?

On average, 2 to 6 treatments are sufficient. This varies according to the severity of the problem and the age of the child.

When to treat?

The younger the better, it is never too early to treat. For best results, treatment should be before the age of 5 years. After this, the stresses and asymmetries cannot always be completely eliminated but it is still possible to achieve beneficial release of the stresses throughout life.

• Crying babies
• Feeding difficulties
• Sickness, colic and wind
• Sleep disturbances
• Recurrent infection
• Ear infections
• Asthma
• Sinus and adenoidal problems
• Behavioural problems
• Learning difficulties
• Cerebral palsy and other types of brain damage

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