Are you dealing with the discomfort of knee arthritis? You’re not alone. It affects millions of people around the world, ranging in age.
Fortunately, there are natural approaches to managing the pain caused by this condition; one such approach is osteopathy.
Osteopaths have been utilising a combination of manual therapy and movement exercises to alleviate symptoms associated with knee arthritis for years, leading many patients to notice less pain and improved knee function.
Arthritis is a medical condition characterised by inflammation of one or more joints. It can cause pain, swelling, stiffness, and decreased range of motion in the affected joint. The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis, caused by wear and tear on the cartilage that cushions the ends of bones in a joint.
Knee osteoarthritis is very common. Your knee endures tremendous strains and extreme stress through twists and turns. It also provides support to your entire body weight without fail. Both knees can be frequently affected by osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is commonly only found in one joint however it can be present in multiple.
The most typical signs and symptoms of knee arthritis are pain and swelling. Some therapies could lessen your symptoms or even stop the progression.
The most common type of arthritis that affects your knees, osteoarthritis, has four stages:
Stage 1 Indicates that your knee joint has some wear and tear. You are unlikely to feel any pain.
In the mild stage, you may experience pain and stiffness, but there is still enough cartilage to keep the bones from actually touching.
When you are in the moderate stage, you will experience more pain, particularly when running, walking, squatting, and kneeling. You'll most likely notice it after extended rest periods (like first thing in the morning). You're probably in a lot of pain because the cartilage has gotten even narrower, and there are a lot of bone spurs.
The cartilage is nearly gone in severe osteoarthritis. Your knee is stiff and painful, and it may be immobile. Surgery may be necessary.
Experts have identified that arthritis can be caused by genetics, this includes knee arthritis. They predict that there are additional genes that have yet to be discovered. You may have a gene linked to arthritis without knowing it. A virus or injury may also cause knee arthritis.
Though the cause is unknown, some risk factors increase the likelihood of knee arthritis. The following are risk factors for osteoarthritis:
Osteopathy is a natural approach to pain relief and management of knee arthritis. Osteopathic treatments aim to restore balance, mobility and alignment in the body by addressing imbalances in the musculoskeletal system. Osteopaths use gentle manipulative techniques to reduce tension and improve circulation and blood flow to encourage healing.
Osteopaths can provide effective arthritis pain management through gentle stretches, and massage of the affected joint to reduce inflammation and enhance joint mobility.
Healthy lifestyle changes such as maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding activities that stress the joints may also be recommended.
Stretches and exercises may also be prescribed to strengthen muscles and improve flexibility. These also keep you moving in between treatments.
Osteopathy can be used to treat pain associated with knee arthritis, but it is important to note that it will not cure the condition. It is best used with conventional treatments, such as medications and lifestyle modifications.
If you suffer from knee arthritis and want to explore natural approaches to managing your symptoms, you should talk to your doctor and an osteopath. An osteopath can develop an individualised treatment plan that meets your needs and can help you manage the pain associated with knee arthritis.
Osteopathy offers a natural and practical approach to managing knee arthritis pain and improving overall joint health.
Foundation Health Osteopathy provides osteopathic care tailored to your specific condition and needs. Our team of experienced osteopaths will work with you to address the underlying causes of your knee arthritis, so you can find long-term relief and manage your symptoms more effectively.
We provide various services, including manual therapy, therapeutic exercises, and lifestyle advice to help you get back on track.
If you're struggling with knee arthritis, consider giving osteopathy a try and take the first step towards a pain-free, active life.
Are you feeling dizzy or unsteady on your feet? You may be experiencing vertigo, a common condition that affects many people. Vertigo is not a disease, but rather a symptom that can be caused by a variety of underlying conditions.
People with vertigo often feel that they or objects around them are moving when they are not, which can cause feelings of light-headedness, imbalance, and nausea. Vertigo can have a significant impact on a person's daily life, affecting their ability to work, drive, and even perform simple tasks.
In this article, we will explore the causes, symptoms and treatment options for vertigo.
Vertigo is a type of dizziness that can cause a range of symptoms. The most common symptoms of vertigo include a sensation of spinning or whirling, feeling off-balance or unsteady, and experiencing nausea or vomiting.
Other symptoms may include headaches, sweating, ringing in the ears, and difficulty focusing or concentrating. In some cases, people may also experience symptoms such as double vision, difficulty speaking or hearing, and a feeling of pressure or fullness in the ears.
It is important to note that the severity and duration of these symptoms can vary from person to person and may be indicative of different underlying conditions.
The inner ear is a complex structure that is responsible for our balance and spatial awareness. It contains small crystals that help detect the direction and speed of head movements, but when they become dislodged, they can cause vertigo.
The crystals move through the fluid, activate nerves in the canals, and send signals to the brain that make it think our head is moving when it's not. This creates a mismatch of information between our senses and brain, leading to the unpleasant sensation of vertigo.
Foundation Health Osteopathy provides effective treatment options for various types of vertigo. If you're experiencing symptoms of vertigo dizziness, it's recommended to see your GP first. However, if you are referred to us for further assessment and treatment, our team of osteopaths will conduct a comprehensive examination to diagnose your condition.
Depending on the type of vertigo you have, treatment options may include repositioning manoeuvres, medication, and lifestyle changes. Repositioning manoeuvres involve a series of head movements and positioning exercises to move dislodged crystals back to their original location in the inner ear. The Epley manoeuvre and the Brandt-Daroff exercise are two common repositioning manoeuvres used to treat BPPV.
Medication may also be prescribed to manage symptoms of nausea and vomiting. Lifestyle changes such as avoiding sudden head movements can also be recommended to reduce the risk of future vertigo episodes.
At Foundation Health Osteopathy, our aim is to provide comprehensive care for patients with vertigo. Our team of osteopaths are dedicated to helping you find relief from your symptoms and improve your quality of life.
Contact us for an assessment and treatment plan if you're experiencing symptoms of vertigo.
If you're experiencing vertigo, it's important to seek professional help to ensure you receive the right diagnosis and treatment. Here at Foundation Health Osteopathy, our team of osteopaths can assess your symptoms, determine the cause of your vertigo, and develop a tailored treatment plan to help you find relief.
Trying to manage vertigo on your own can be difficult and may not address the underlying cause of your symptoms. Our team of health professionals has the knowledge and resources to provide you with the best possible care.
Don't let vertigo impact your daily life any longer. Contact Foundation Health Osteopathy today to schedule an appointment and take the first step towards feeling better.
Osteopathy is a holistic approach to healthcare that focuses on the body’s musculoskeletal system. It is a form of manual therapy that can be used to treat and prevent occupational musculoskeletal pain. Osteopathic treatment involves manipulating the body’s soft tissues, joints, and muscles to restore balance and improve function.
Osteopathy is an effective treatment for occupational musculoskeletal pain because it can help to reduce pain and improve mobility. It can also be used to prevent occupational musculoskeletal pain from occurring in the first place.
Osteopathic treatment can help to reduce the risk of developing occupational musculoskeletal pain by addressing the underlying causes, such as poor posture, repetitive motions, and insufficient rest periods.
Occupational musculoskeletal pain are injuries or conditions of the muscles, nerves, tendons, ligaments, joints, cartilage and other soft tissues caused by repetitive motion and improper body mechanics.
These types of injuries can result from work-related activities such as lifting heavy objects, using vibrating tools for extended periods and performing certain tasks in awkward postures.
Commonly referred to as ergonomic-related injuries or workplace-induced injuries, occupational musculoskeletal pain can be painful and restrict movement.
Symptoms include pain, stiffness, aching and/or numbness in the affected area. In some cases, individuals may experience weakness or fatigue that affects their ability to perform daily tasks.
With prompt treatment and careful management, most occupational musculoskeletal pain can be prevented and/or managed effectively.
Work-related musculoskeletal pain is classified as overuse injuries and overexertion injuries.
Overuse injuries at work, also known as repetitive strain injuries, include various inflammatory and degenerative pain.
Carpal tunnel syndrome, shoulder impingement syndrome, lateral epicondylopathy, and tendinopathy of the wrist or hand are a few examples. These conditions are commonly associated with repetitive, forceful, or awkward movements.
Overexertion injuries occur when muscles, ligaments, or tendons are overstressed during resisted movement. Overexertion mechanisms include lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying weights that exceed a person's capacity.
In an ergonomically poor workplace, joints, muscles, and tendons are subjected to biomechanical stress due to awkward movements and postures. There is a risk of injury when tissues are put under greater demands than they are structurally or physiologically capable of meeting.
These risk factors result from ergonomic stresses caused by prolonged or awkward postures, repetition without adequate recovery time, or the need to lift or move heavy loads.
Some ergonomic stressors put soft tissues in close contact with bone, causing friction and inflammation, while others put undue strain on muscles and connective tissues. The worker is likely predisposed to these effects due to baseline postural abnormalities and dysfunctional movement patterns.
Slips, trips, falls and blows also cause injuries among workers. These injuries are usually caused by environmental or performance problems.
It is possible to reduce the risk of occupational musculoskeletal injuries and disabilities by ensuring that demands are matched to capacity, correcting dysfunctional movement patterns, and limiting tissue vulnerability to stress.
The goal of osteopathic treatment is to restore normal thoracic spine and rib cage mechanics while also improving transverse diaphragm movement.
Osteopathic treatment can also be used to improve the ergonomics of a workplace. By assessing the work environment and making adjustments, such as suggesting ergonomic chairs and desks, osteopaths can help to reduce the risk of developing an occupational musculoskeletal disorder.
In the workplace, interventions are implemented to reduce or eliminate stressors that overwhelm an individual's capacity to accommodate or adapt to these conditions. As a result, musculoskeletal strain will be prevented.
Overall, osteopathy is an effective treatment for occupational musculoskeletal pain and can be used to both treat existing conditions and prevent them from occurring in the first place.
By addressing the underlying causes of occupational musculoskeletal pain, such as poor posture and inadequate rest periods, osteopathic treatment can help to reduce the risk of developing an occupational musculoskeletal disorder.
In addition, it can also be used to improve the ergonomics of a workplace and treat other conditions such as headaches, neck pain, and back pain.
Book an appointment at Foundation Health for osteopathic care for occupational musculoskeletal pain!
Are you constantly tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep no matter how hard you try? Do you always feel exhausted during the day due to a lack of restful sleep at night? If so, let's consider osteopathy as an alternative way of sleeping better.
Osteopathy can be a great solution to improve your sleep. It is an effective and natural approach that helps to restore balance in the body and mind. Osteopathic treatments can help you to relax, reduce stress and tension, improve circulation and create a better sleeping pattern.
Osteopathic treatments have been proven successful in treating sleeplessness for many people, helping them finally get the quality sleep they need.
Insomnia and other sleep disorders are linked to the central nervous system. Insomnia can be caused by trauma, stress, anxiety, or circulatory problems.
Another issue that can disrupt your sleep is physical pain. Because the nervous system causes pain, it can cause irritability and increase pain signals. The more severe the pain, the more challenging it is for the body to read sleep signals accurately.
The nervous system is made up of two parts: the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems. These two systems manage the entire body's unconscious activities, such as respiration, heartbeat, circulation, digestion, and all bodily functions without conscious will.
The spine is directly connected to the central nervous system via its peripheral nerves. A vertebral misalignment can disrupt the nervous system to the point of causing insomnia.
Chronic sleep deprivation can have severe consequences for your health and well-being. It can lead to fatigue, irritability, depression, anxiety, a weakened immune system, increased risk of heart disease and stroke, weight gain, headaches, musculoskeletal pain, and even an increased risk of death.
Long-term sleep deprivation can also affect your cognitive abilities, such as memory, concentration and decision-making.
In addition to these physical effects, chronic sleep deprivation can negatively impact your relationships and work performance.
One osteopathic approach is to restore the proper functioning of the vagus nerve or the X cranial nerve, which is in charge of both physical and mental well-being.
Osteopathy can also help to restore balance to the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems. A healthy central nervous system allows the body to rest, improves functionality, decreases overall tension, and promotes deeper sleep.
Cranial osteopathy can also help you sleep better during stressful times. Stress, whether personal or professional, can cause fatigue, attention deficits, irritability, and anxiety.
When stressed for an extended period, the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems function similarly to a motor that is difficult to stop and eventually causes fatigue.
Even muscle tension sends mixed signals to the nervous system. Misinterpretation results in incorrect body responses. Disease results from ineffective communication in the body.
An osteopath can effectively address the source of insomnia using specialised techniques in soft tissue and biodynamic fluid body. Specific techniques for manipulating the cranium and sacrum axis can significantly improve spine mobility.
Osteopathic sessions can naturally and safely remove blockages and restrictions throughout the body, allowing for better sleep and more energy and alertness during the day. If necessary, your osteopath will suggest additional therapeutic interventions such as meditation, yoga, and exercise, which can also help with insomnia.
Here are a few things you can do to increase your sleep quality at night.
Not getting enough sleep can seriously affect your health. As well as impacting concentration and mood, lack of sleep has been linked to various conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and even premature death.
Osteopathy is a safe and natural way to improve sleep quality. It can help to reduce physical pain, restore balance in the nervous system and eliminate blockages in the body.
Osteopathic treatments are tailored to each individual's needs and can be combined with other therapies such as meditation, yoga, breathwork and exercise for maximum benefit. Regular osteopathic treatment allows you to enjoy a better night's sleep and improved overall well-being.
Do you feel constantly stressed out? Do you feel like there's never enough time in the day to get everything done? Are you constantly juggling multiple tasks at once? If so, osteopathy may be the solution for you!
Osteopathy is a form of manual therapy that can help release tension and stress from your body. It is a very effective way to combat stress, and it can help improve your overall quality of life.
Osteopathy may be just what you need if you're looking for a way to reduce stress and live a healthier lifestyle.
Stress is an imbalance often exacerbated when confronted with a situation we feel unable or poorly equipped to handle.
Stress is a normal part of life and is the body's reaction to physical, mental, or emotional demands that necessitate a change or adaptation to a new situation. Stress can be used to our advantage, keeping us motivated, alert and ready to avoid danger.
A stressful situation may help our mind and body become stronger and more resilient to future stressors.
However, when we are exposed to stress in a negative way, such as through chronic or intense situations, our mind and body's capacity to manage, process, and tolerate the perceived stress becomes insufficient.
When this happens, the prolonged activation of our stress response affects our mental and physical health.
Stress can change how we see a problem, which diminishes our reasoning skills and ability to understand the issue.
Without treatment, stress can cause mental health issues like anxiety and depression. It can also dictate the emotions and behaviours of those suffering from it.
You may experience the following symptoms as a result of prolonged stress:
If no medical diagnosis has been indicated by your GP, We would advise seeking help from a Registered allied health professional such as an osteopath.
Let us help you investigate other potential causes and give you the tools necessary to manage stress more effectively and relieve your symptoms.
To relieve the symptoms of chronic stress, osteopathy can help to balance the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. The sympathetic nervous system is in charge of the "fight or flight" response, while the parasympathetic nervous system restores calm, so it's critical to maintain a balance between the two.
When your body is constantly stressed, your muscles can tense for extended periods. Muscles are not designed to do this, so that they can cause fatigue, aches and pains, and conditions like headaches.
Osteopaths employ several gentle techniques to help relax tight muscles. The central nervous system is calmed by releasing tension and allowing the body to relax. This physical relaxation will make your body feel more at ease, and you may notice that you are more mentally alert.
The respiratory system is another area of the body affected by long-term stress—our breathing rate increases when the "fight or flight" response is activated.
We recommend using breathing techniques to reduce your heart rate to help treat this. Utilise your breath as a pillar within your body to relieve stress and tension.
These techniques can be used anywhere and at any time. In addition to helping you with pain relief, your osteopath can also teach you breathing exercises to help manage stress.
Stress can also cause the muscles surrounding the gut to tighten, affecting the digestive system. This can result in bloating, diarrhoea, or constipation, making you uncomfortable and in pain.
Our osteopaths can gently release this tension, which aids digestion. We also recommend that you stay active and move around to aid digestion.
Osteopaths can use many different osteopathic treatment methods on the body that can help ease emotional tension, which is being trapped in the tissues of the body. Osteopathic techniques include soft tissue manipulation, myofascial (soft tissue) techniques, craniosacral therapy, counterstrain, facilitated positional release, and muscle energy techniques.
We've all felt stress from various situations at some point in our lives. And we all know how difficult it is to live with physical and mental stress. It is also prevalent in this fast-paced era.
Overall health can only be achieved when the body and mind are in balance. As a result, mental health is just as important as physical health.
Osteopathy can be a great way to relax and de-stress after a long day, or it can be used as a part of a regular stress management plan. Osteopathy may be your answer if you're looking for a way to reduce stress levels. Give it a try today!
Book an appointment at Foundation Health for osteopathic care for stress release!
Do you experience dizziness, lightheadedness, or vertigo often? It can be incredibly frustrating and limiting. Vertigo is an unsettling condition that can cause a person to feel like they are spinning or moving even when they are stationary.
While there can be many causes for vertigo, one relatively unknown solution is osteopathy. Osteopathy is a manual therapy that uses specific techniques to treat the body as a whole.
Osteopathy is an effective treatment for vertigo and can help patients regain their stability and quality of life.
Vertigo is a symptom of a medical problem, not a disease in and of itself. Vertigo is a common condition that affects approximately 40% of the population at some point in their lives. Vertigo is a complex condition frequently caused by several factors and is hardly straightforward.
Vertigo sufferers describe the sensation as "dizzy spells" and "the room spinning" when moving their necks or changing positions. This dizziness can cause nausea, vomiting, and the sensation that one's eyes are flickering.
The most common type of vertigo is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), which accounts for 20% of all dizziness episodes. It is critical to have a medical practitioner evaluate the cause of vertigo since multiple factors, conditions, and diseases can cause it.
It can be divided into a few broad categories. These are problems with your blood pressure or blood pressure medications, other medications, inner ear infections, a virus, problems with your neck that affect a specific nerve, and benign vestibular apparatus problems that governs balance.
The most common cause of vertigo is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). BPPV is actually an ear condition that gives you a sudden spinning sensation as if your head is spinning from within. This can last for seconds or days.
BPPV is caused by crystals in your inner ear moving from their normal position and circling the ear canal. The increased movement of the crystals gives the brain a false sense of motion when moving the head.
When people have vertigo, they feel that the room is spinning, especially when they move into certain positions, such as rolling over in bed.
A problem in the part of the inner ear that controls balance causes peripheral vertigo. The vestibular labyrinth or semicircular canals are the names given to these areas. The vestibular nerve may also be involved in the problem. This is the nerve that connects the inner ear to the brain stem.
A series of very gentle treatments to relieve pressure and irritation in your neck, combined with the most recent vestibular apparatus rehabilitative exercises, can significantly reduce your symptoms.
It's incredible how a patient with severe vertigo can improve dramatically with gentle, targeted treatment.
Treatment includes a series of head movements that helps to dislodge the crystals that form in the ears allowing very rapid relief of the spinning sensation.
We strongly encourage you to try gentle osteopathic treatment to relieve and treat your vertigo because we believe it is a very effective treatment regime.
Alternative medical treatments, such as taking stematil, do not address the cause of your vertigo but may relieve your symptoms. The bombardment of tests you can receive in the hospital is quite unpleasant. It should be avoided if at all possible.
Craniosacral osteopathy is an effective treatment option for people who suffer from chronic peripheral vestibular pathology.
Fortunately, your osteopath can help you relieve the symptoms of BPPV-related vertigo. Your osteopath may use simple positioning techniques and a series of questions to help categorise the symptoms to determine which type of vertigo is present.
Many people who suffer from vertigo benefit from vestibular rehabilitation training (VRT), which is a series of exercises for people who suffer from dizziness and balance problems.
If you have vertigo, the best thing you can do is lie down in a quiet, dark room, close your eyes, and take deep breaths. This may help alleviate nausea and reduce the sensation of spinning.
Traditional treatments like medication and surgery may not be the right fit for all patients with vertigo.
We think you should consider osteopathy as a treatment option. Osteopaths are specially trained to treat the whole body, not just the symptoms. We can help to restore balance and reduce or eliminate your vertigo symptoms.
If you are suffering from vertigo, don't hesitate to explore the possibility of osteopathic treatment. You may be surprised at how well it works!
Do you ever feel like your body is a bit stiff and inflexible? Does it sometimes feel hard to move your joints freely? If so, you're not alone. Many people find themselves in this situation, especially as they get older. However, there are ways to combat this stiffness and lack of mobility.
One solution is osteopathy. Osteopathy is a form of holistic medicine that focuses on helping people achieve better flexibility and joint mobility. It can be incredibly effective in improving your overall quality of life.
The functional capacity of a joint or series of joints to move through an unrestricted, pain-free range of motion is referred to as flexibility. Although flexibility varies significantly between people, specific minimum ranges are required to maintain joint and overall health.
The ability of a joint to move actively through a range of motion is defined as mobility.
Other factors, such as how far the joint can move within its joint capsule, also influence your mobility. The nervous system is also involved in determining our level of motor control.
For example, your body may attempt to "protect" you by tightening specific muscles. This, in turn, limits the range of motion through the joints to which they are attached.
Most people take muscular flexibility and joint range of motion for granted, and they are rarely a significant focus in fitness and training programs, even though they are a major precursor to injury and a limiting factor in sporting performance.
Flexibility is a significant component of physical fitness and has numerous health benefits. It improves mobility, posture, and muscle coordination, lowering the risk of injury and muscle soreness. It even enhances the overall body shape.
Maintaining joint mobility helps to keep you healthy, reduces pain, and lowers the risk of injury.
A more flexible person can perform longer and more consistently, whereas a less flexible person who pushes themselves to a high level is more likely to injure themselves.
Mobility is critical for improving movement quality and strength. Lifting a weight through a range of motion will make you stronger and safer if your body can comfortably achieve that position.
You will benefit from improved athletic performance because your body can perform for more extended periods since your muscles can function optimally without compensating from poor mechanics.
Increased flexibility will also benefit your athletic performance. You'll have more joint range of motion, which reduces load and risk.
You'll be less fatigued if your muscles and joints work optimally.
Flexibility does improve joint mobility. Flexibility will benefit your joints by allowing you to move more freely. Muscle flexibility is an essential component of mobility because it enhances the ability of your muscles to move your joints. When the muscles and tissues surrounding a joint are overly tight, it causes more internal body resistance to joint motion.
Static stretching improves flexibility by isolating specific tight muscle groups, releasing muscular tension.
Everyone should include general mobility exercises in their warm-up and cool-down routine. These may consist of deep squats, hip hinges, thoracic extension and rotation exercises.
Mobility exercises must be used in conjunction with other activities. They will not, however, be effective if you use them when you have an underlying stability issue, either at the stiff segment or elsewhere in the body.
When combined with osteopathy in a sensible, principle-based approach, they can play an important role in regaining and improving flexibility and mobility.
Once you're moving correctly, full range of motion strength training is likely the best way to maintain and improve flexibility and joint mobility.
Your osteopath can assess your general movement, posture, pelvic and spinal alignment, flexibility, musculature, and joint mobility through a thorough physical examination. This evaluation will allow them to develop a suitable treatment plan for your specific needs.
Your osteopath looks at your entire body, creating a holistic treatment plan to address the imbalance and strengthen not only the areas of pain or discomfort but also the supporting areas of your body, working to reduce inflammation, increase performance and mobility, and prevent future illness or injury.
Flexibility and mobility enable you to position your body in the most secure and favourable position for using your strength.
Osteopathy is a great way to improve your flexibility and joint mobility. The gentle, hands-on approach of osteopathy can help you achieve a better range of motion and flexibility while relieving tension and pain.
Osteopathy may be the right choice if you're looking for a way to improve your flexibility and joint mobility!
Have you been experiencing pain in your jaw joint? Are you finding it difficult to open your mouth wide? You may be suffering from TMJ dysfunction. While this condition can be frustrating and uncomfortable, the treatments available can help you get relief.
One such treatment is osteopathy. Osteopathy is a form of manual therapy that can help ease TMJ dysfunction symptoms. Osteopathy is a holistic approach that considers all aspects of your health, and it may be just what you need to get relief from your TMJ pain.
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the main joint in your jaw. It is one of your body's most frequently used joints. It participates in daily activities such as chewing, talking and yawning. In fact, you use your TMJ every time you move your mouth.
Temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD) refers to conditions affecting the jaw and surrounding muscles. TMD is an unexpected and painful ailment that can be a significant issue for sufferers because there is little opportunity to rest your jaw, even if it hurts. This is due to the fact that we use our jaws for so many vital functions throughout the day.
The following are the most common TMD symptoms:
TMJ dysfunction is a broad term to describe issues with this joint. Many structures in and around the joint, including the muscles, joint surfaces, and a small disc that sits inside, can cause problems.
Muscle imbalances are common and can cause stiffness or pain (or both) when you open and close your mouth.
There are several possible reasons for tight muscles in the neck area, including jaw trauma (such as when you are punched or hit your chin after a fall), clenching while sleeping (called bruxism), poor posture, and neck dysfunction, or dental problems such as an uneven bite.
People who are highly stressed frequently clench their jaws while sleeping, which can result in waking up with a sore jaw or headaches.
A small disc slides and moves inside the joint during jaw movements. Sometimes this disc can become "displaced" and may not slide and move as smoothly as it should. This frequently results in a jaw that clicks or cracks when opening the mouth.
The click is generally painless, but some people may experience pain in addition to the click. In severe cases, the jaw may temporarily lock, which would be highly distressing to experience.
Jaw joint pain can occasionally manifest as ear pain.
Osteopaths are known for taking a comprehensive approach to examination and treatment. Seeing as TMD is rarely an isolated problem, your jaw, neck, head, shoulders, and upper body may need to be examined and treated if they are contributing to your TMD symptoms.
Osteopathic manual therapy relieves pain, reduces inflammation, and restores function. As the earliest form of intervention, this type of TMD treatment should be administered as soon as symptoms appear.
Your osteopath will do the following to relieve your TMJ pain:
Osteopaths have several techniques that can be used to relieve tension and realign the jaw and its associated structures. We've discovered that it responds exceptionally well; most people report a significant improvement in symptoms, pain and realignment.
If misalignment is caused by postural or muscular issues, osteopathic treatment can help to alleviate your symptoms and relax any jaw muscle spasms.
Relief is available if you're one of many suffering from TMJ dysfunction. Osteopathic treatment is an effective way to relieve pain and restore function. Osteopathic care is tailored specifically to each individual and can relieve many people who have had little success with other treatments.
The most crucial aspect of any injury is determining the correct diagnosis, so please consult with one of our experienced osteopaths at Foundation Health if you think you may be suffering from TMJ dysfunction.
You can get back to living a healthy, happy life with proper diagnosis and treatment.
Have you ever tweaked your ankle while running or felt a sharp pain in your knee? If so, you're not alone: running can be hard on the body, and injuries are common. But don't worry – help is available.
Osteopathy is a manual therapy that can help with running injuries. They'll help get you back on your feet – and running – in no time.
Running injuries can occur for various reasons, including:
Most runners go over on their ankles, sprain them, and are back to square one soon after. Ankle pain usually occurs when you twist or fall on your ankle.
The majority of sprains will heal with rest, ice, and elevation. However, it's still a good idea to see an osteopath for a sports massage, recovery procedures, and strengthening exercises to help the ankle heal faster.
This injury, also known as shin splints, is caused by excessive tibial strain. Runners with this condition typically experience pain anywhere along their inner shin.
Pain near the kneecap, also known as “runner's knee”, is commonly associated with long-distance running.
When you run, this muscle is constantly under strain and stress; it usually feels tight and stiff, but it can become increasingly worse.
A condition in which the plantar fascia ligament, which is located between the toes and the heel, becomes inflamed after prolonged training on hard terrain.
Pulling your hamstring can be excruciatingly painful and can occur at any point along the muscle. Pulled hamstrings can occur due to various factors, including fatigue, running at a strained pace, and issues with other muscles that place additional strain on your hamstring.
This injury, also known as "jumper's knee," involves damage to the patella tendon, which is located just below the kneecap. It is commonly associated with long periods of running.
Increasing joint mobility and range of motion through gentle manipulation and articulation.
This procedure focuses on increasing blood flow and releasing and relaxing muscles through deep pressure massage and trigger point therapy.
This essentially entails assessing your gait, both while walking and while running. This evaluation of your movement will include an examination of your back, hips, knees, and feet and how they are affected while running.
Your osteopath will recommend specific stretches and exercises for injury recovery and day-to-day training methods.
Runners can benefit significantly from osteopathy. An osteopath will evaluate your running technique, shoe wear patterns, and training load in conjunction with an osteopathic musculoskeletal examination to help form a picture of why the runner has become injured. The injury will then be treated by an osteopath using a combination of soft tissue treatment, joint articulation or manipulation, dry needling (acupuncture), and ergonomic, rehabilitation, and training advice.
Osteopaths are trained to use their knowledge of biomechanics to identify areas of your body that are not functioning optimally and work on them to improve your health and performance.
If you are new to running, you may be more likely to require treatment for runner's injuries. If you increase the length or intensity of your running routine, you may be at greater risk of running injuries.
Before you end up needing treatment for running injuries, it might be worth paying a visit to your osteopath. An osteopathic evaluation is your best bet for avoiding running injuries.
This is because we recognise that running is an excellent way to get in shape. It improves cardio-vascular fitness and muscle tone and can even improve your mood! As a result, we strongly encourage you to participate. However, running can be dangerous, even for marathon runners.
Whether you run marathons, jog for general fitness, or use running as a training aid for other sports, there is always room for improvement in performance, injury prevention, and rehabilitation.
Osteopathy provides numerous long-term benefits to the body, mind, and spirit. Osteopathy can be used as a preventative measure, allowing athletes and runners to avoid similar injuries in the future.
Osteopathy's primary goal is to get your entire body moving correctly. This makes your body more efficient, allowing you to waste less energy and redirect it towards healing and recovery. In the end, this means fewer injuries, less time off, and improved performance.
