TREATMENTS
TREATMENTS FOR THE WHOLE BODY & EVERYBODY
Is your neck stiff? Your muscles tired or tight? Are you feeling the stress and strain of daily life? Or are you fed up with having a headache? The team at Chertsey Osteopathic Clinic offer a variety of treatments, allowing you to bounce back to your normal self.
Soft tissue massage
Soft tissue massage is a specific type of massage which aids in relaxing muscles, increases blood circulation and lymph flow, improves the healing time of strained ligaments and muscular tissue, reduces the inflammation of joints and improves joint flexibility.
Articulation
Articulation is used in most manual therapies, including osteopathy. It uses a low amplitude (short distance) and low to moderate velocity (speed) of movement to carry a dysfunctional joint through its full range of motion, with the therapeutic goal of increasing range of motion. Articulation has also been shown to help relieve pain.
Manipulation
Manipulation or HVT (high velocity thrusts) are short, sharp movements to the spine, which normally produce a clicking noise. HVT is effective in increasing the range of movement within a locked spinal joint, thus reducing muscle spasm in the surrounding soft tissues, increasing blood flow and reducing the patient’s pain.
Interferential
Interferential therapy is widely used by Osteopaths and Physiotherapists. It uses electrical current to reduce swelling, relieve pain and stimulate healing. Interferential applies two different frequencies that interfere with one another to produce a medium frequency current within the tissues. Interferential therapy is used for acute and chronic pain, muscle spasm or swelling due to ligament or muscular injuries.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound is normally applied by the use of a small metal treatment head which emits a sound wave (something the patient cannot feel). This is moved continuously over the skin for approximately 3-5 mins. It causes a vibration and production of heat in the tissues, particularly those that contain collagen. This increase in temperature aids the extensibility of structures such as ligaments, tendons, scar tissue, and fibrous joint capsules. In addition, heating may also help to reduce pain and muscle spasm and promote healing.
Dry needling (medical accupuncture)
Medical acupuncture can help to relieve pain by stimulating the brain and nervous system to produce pain-relieving chemicals, such as endorphins. This is thought to help promote the body's natural healing process, which can be essential in the treatment of painful musculoskeletal problems.
Trigger Point therapy
Trigger point therapy is one of many treatments Osteopath's can use to release trigger points. A trigger point is a small "knot" or inflamed tight ball, that forms within a fibre of a muscle. They can also cause referred pain, which is pain created in a separate area.
Myofacial release
Myofascial release is one type of massage that treats discomfort in skeletal muscles. It helps to improve circulation and stimulates stretch in muscular tissue.
Fascia is a very strong, very connected spider web, when one area of fascia gets injured, the effects can cause problems elsewhere. This is why pain in our knee may have nothing to do with a knee injury, but due an injury to our lower back.
Taping
Strapping and taping is often used by Osteopath's to relieve pain, improve joint stability, enhance athlete's confidence and prevent injury. It can be tailored to individual injuries, allow normal movement and posture.
Cranial Osteopathy
Cranial is a refined and gentle type of Osteopathic treatment. It encourages the release of stresses and tensions throughout the body and head and can be used to treat a wide range of conditions in new born babies right the way through to elderly patients.